Tuke clarifies status of Tolukuma licence

MINING Minister Johnson Tuke says the licence for the Tolukuma Gold Mine in Goilala, Central, will have to be returned.
Tuke made the statement following questions from local MP William Samb in Parliament yesterday on the status of the operation.
“It’s been three years since the agreement was signed for the mining project in my district,” Samb said.
“Can the minister tell this House and the people of Goilala why there hasn’t been any progress?
“Is it because the investor doesn’t have any resource or funding?”
Tuke said the company was in liquidation.
“They have a lot of related problems as far as the mining at Tolukuma is concerned,” he said.
“The process down at MRA (Mineral Resources Authority) is we give licences to operate and dig gold. Not hold on to it, sit and do nothing.
“In the next week, we will demand Tolukuma to surrender their licence to us so a new company or anybody can raise their interest to partake in the mining.”
Samb said the district did not want a “paper company” to develop any of its roads.
“Last term, through a partnership with the mine, we were able to do 35km of road from Tolukuma down to the border of Kairuku/Hiri,” Samb said.
“Now, there is a tender for construction from the Tapini turn-off to the mine.
“What is the status of that tender process because we would like a competent contractor to go and do that job.
“Goilala is least developed and we do not want a ‘paper company’ to come and play around with the limited resource we have.”
Tuke responded: “I am not party to decide on who to take any contract. It is a CSTB (Central Supply and Tenders Board) process.”