Porgera SML to be reviewed, O’Neill says

By JEFFREY ELAPA
Review of the special mining lease (SML) for Porgera gold mine in Enga will be done for the benefit of all stakeholders, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says.
He said this in response to questions raised by Lagaip-Porgera MP Tomait Kapili who wanted him to give the Government’s position on issuance of the Porgera SML that expires in August.
Kapili said the SML was issued in 1989. The mine development contract agreement was signed soon after by landowners, Government, provincial government and the then developer.
Kapili said the important beneficiaries to be included were landowners represented by Porgera Landowners’ Association, the legitimate landowner association made up of seven landowner tribes and 24 groups of family units.
“These groups went together to form the Porgera Landowners Association (PLOA),” he said.
“This association has also been recognised by the court as the legitimate body after another group, called the Justice Foundation for Porgera (JFPl), took the matter to court and that has been published in the dailies.”