Saonu wants meeting regarding Wafi-Golpu to be held in Morobe

MOROBE Governor Ginson Saonu says he is not happy that the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) hosting the second Wafi-Golpu mine stakeholders’ meeting in Kokopo recently.
He said he did not want to see any meetings regarding development of the mine held outside Morobe.
“I heard that the landowners travelled to Kokopo for the second mining conference there,” Saonu said. “I do not want these mining meetings to happen in other parts of the country but in Morobe. This is because the mine is in Morobe.
“I have written to the MRA to advise them to cancel that meeting in Kokopo. I was not happy with the meeting and have advised MRA to conduct all future meetings in Lae only.” Saonu said it was better to hold meetings in Lae because all mine stakeholders were there.
The MRA in response said holding of the meeting in Kokopo was done according to the wishes of the special mining lease (SML) area landowners of Wafi-Golpu. MRA’s public relations officer Kenneth Avira said: “The SML landowners suggested that the meeting be held in Kokopo due to the fact that the development forum held in Lae was disrupted by other landowner groups that have not been given recognition by the government.
“The reason for having the meeting in Kokopo was to manage the discussions properly without any more disruptions.
“It is MRA’s call to hold meetings in whatever location it considers appropriate to achieve the outcomes that all stakeholders want to achieve.”