Wafi-Golpu’s development contract talks to start

DISCUSSIONS on a mining development contract for the proposed K18.4 billion Wafi-Golpu mining project in Morobe will start as early as next week, according to the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).
Managing director Jerry Garry told The National that both the State and the mine’s joint venture partners had held talks and a review of those exchanges was underway.
“We gave our comments to the joint venture partners, and they came back with their comments which the state team is going through, ticking what they agree and disagree on,” Garry said.
“I am anticipating that next week, we will sit down with the joint venture partners to commence discussions on the mining development contract.”
Garry clarified that matter on the environmental permit which the Morobe government took to court did not affect other aspects of the process.
Last month, Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi stayed the issue of the environment permit issued by the Government for the Wafi Golpu mining project pending a judicial review of that decision.
Morobe Governor Gibson Saonu and the Morobe government asked the court to review the decision to issue the permit made by Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori and the managing director for Conservation and Environment Protection Authority Gunther Joku. They are arguing that the decision was ultra-vires, a denial of natural justice, biased and unreasonable.
They claim that there was a lack of proper consultation between the State and the landowners regarding reports on the risk and impact of the deep sea tailing placement, the waste disposal method, on the environment.