Wild Dog mining project winding down

THE developer of the Sinivit gold mine in East New Britain, New Guinea Gold Ltd, has developed plans to close the mine in 14 months time.
This was revealed by the company during a visit by a delegation from the provincial government who conducted a fact-finding tour to the mine site last week.
The delegation was headed by deputy governor and president of the Sinivit LLG Boniface Setavo, acting provincial administrator Matalau Nakikus, some members of the provincial executive council and senior public servants.
Wild Dog mine management, during a briefing with the delegation, said the company had been working on a draft timetable, for the mine’s eventual closure in which a report would be submitted to the appropriate government agencies for consideration.
It said the mineable gold reserve in the current mining lease was 306,000 tonnes of ore that would produce up to 39,000 ounces of gold extracted at the rate of 5g of gold per tonne.
The management explained that based upon the company’s production rate of 15,000 tonnes of gold per month; the mine had a remaining life span of 14 months with a further 10 months to allow for the completion of leaching vats.
The Wild Dog mine uses the leaching process with vats or huge holes dug
into the ground to extract the gold
from raw materials.
The site management said they were currently experiencing a low production than the normal rate with an average of between 50% and  60% gold production.
They said the company had also been conducting exploration in areas outside of the mine lease area, which Niugini Gold Ltd holds mining exploration licence whichexpires in 2053.
Apart from the mine closure, more than K2 million in monetary benefits to the landowners are being withheld due to unresolved land disputes.
NGL community relations manager Paul Pora revealed this to the visiting delegation at the mine site last week.
Pora said the outstanding benefits had amounted to K2.7 million and included K799,000 in royalties, a K500,000 in business development and a further K100,00 in business establishment grant from the national government.
He said these benefits were being withheld following a court dispute over the leadership of the landowner company – Uramot.
Pora added that it was now up to the leaders of the disputing groups to resolve their leadership problem so that the people could access funds to help develop their area.
He also mentioned that NGL was prepared to help create viable spin off businesses for the Uramot landowners and the Baining people.