The National Government has reaffirmed its commitment to complete the Porgera Mining Project Memorandum of Agreement review this week in Kokopo.
This assurance from the state team, comes as the parties commence the review meeting yesterday.
Mining Minister’s First Secretary, Kathy Kakaraya, told the parties on behalf of the Minister, that the government would like to see the MoA negotiations completed, so that stakeholders can realize benefits from the project.
The benefits successfully negotiated so far in Kokopo, include Paiam Hospital transferred to the Enga Provincial Health Authority, State funding of K10 million for the Porgera –Tari road, and the proclamation of the Porgera Urban Local Level Government.
The outstanding matters which the parties expect to negotiate in detail this week, are the relocation program for landowners living in the Special Mining Lease or SML areas, and the inclusion of the developer of the project – Barrick PNG Limited, to be a party to the MoA.
Mining Minister’s First Secretary, Kathy Kakaraya, said the Minister was fully supportive and committed to the MoA process.
She said this is the final stage of the review process as the parties have gone through most of the commitments in the MoA document over the last 18 months.
Currently, Barrick is only an observer at this review meeting.
Chairman of the review meeting and Secretary of the Department of Mineral Policy & Geohazards Management, Shadrach Himata, appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate to achieve a win-win situation for all.
His said he expected all negotiations to be completed by Wednesday latest and by Thursday, a draft of all agreed positions to be compiled.
Mr Himata told stakeholders that after this round of the review, all stakeholders would consult with their relevant authorities for final approvals of the draft after which, a document capturing all stakeholders agreed positions would be submitted to the National Executive Council through the State Solicitor’s Office for final approval.
State team leader and Managing Director of the Mineral Resources Authority, Phillip Samar, told all stakeholders that the state was represented in the MoA negotiations by all relevant departments, and that alone was testament of the state’s commitment to see the MoA successfully brought to completion.
The parties to the Porgera Mine Project MoA are the Porgera landowners Association, Enga Provincial Government, and National Government.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=feQEBf5eKpE%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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