S. Korea, MRA in scientific pact

AN agreement between the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and the Korean Institute of Geo-science and Mineral Resources aims to enhance the country’s geo-scientific and environmental research capacity.
South Korean Ambassador Lee Whiejin said this was part of  training and human resource development programmes both countries had embarked on.
Lee said an expert from South Korea would visit PNG to meet the authority’s geologists and specialists to discuss further areas of cooperation.
The agreement would provide a framework for the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and improve the capability in geo-scientific and environmental research.
MRA said activities under the agreement would depend on the financial capability and human resources of both parties.
It said exchange and cooperation might be conducted in the following forms:
l    Exchange of scientific and technical information;
l    Exchange of research visits and knowledge;
l    Joint projects;
l    Subject study in areas of mutual interest;
l    Training for research fellows participating in joint projects;
l    Joint workshop, conferences and lectures; and
l    Other forms of cooperation under mutual consent.
MRA added that other tentative initiatives included:
l    Scoping study on the environmental impact of alluvial mining operations in PNG;
l    Development of technical guidelines in mineral resources assessment;
l    Use and application of state-of-the-art research methods and technology for environmental monitoring and evaluation; and
l    Development of a mine waste environmental management database.
MRA’s acting managing director Philip Samar said the agreement responded to the government’s medium and long term plans for the mineral sector.
“The government’s goal in this sector is really to double mineral exports while minimising environmental foot prints,” Samar said.
He added that MRA had in-house technical expertise that would be a bonus to achieve goals of this programme.
A similar agreement was signed with the Chinese government last year, with similar plans for New Zealand and Indonesia in the near future.