Tuke: Alluvial mining policy being worked on

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU
MINING Minister Johnson Tuke says work is being done to have in place an alluvial mining policy to guide the sector.
Tuke said currently alluvial mining was an unregulated and unstructured business.
“We are still in the process of developing alluvial mining policy,” he said.
Tuke said as a result of little regulation and oversight in the industry alluvial miners were causing environmental damage in their areas.
“They are not mindful of the safety,” he said.
“Because you are a landowner, that does not give you the right to go and mine if and when you feel you like it.
“These are called artisanal miners.
“Their activities are of course concern to the community in terms of safety and the environment, and the chemicals they use.
“That triggered us to come up with policy intervention, so we are in the process of developing an alluvial mining policy.
“Right now, alluvial mining is an unregulated and unstructured business.
“When we have a policy in place, they (alluvial miners) can comply with environmental law, labour law, etc, so that they can be held accountable for their actions should anything go wrong.”
Tuke said a separate division may also be established in the near future for alluvial mining alone.
“In due course, I might establish a division out of the Mineral Resources Authority to manage alluvial mining because it is seen as one of the biggest SMEs in this country and we have not realised that,” he said.
“In the last year’s operation, alluvial miners came up with K600 million.
“That is why most of the Papua New Guineans are engaged in alluvial mining businesses.
“However, there is no surrounding Act that will govern their operation.”