By Julie Badui Owa – EMTV News, Lae
The landowners of Wafi Golpu in the Morobe Province said they will shut down the mining operation if the National Government fails to respond to their 7-day petition which was supposed to be submitted today.
The signing of the MoU by the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil, without the participation of the landowners in the consultation of the mine project, triggered their frustration.
They’ve called on the Prime Minister, Mining Minister, Johnson Tuke, and Member for Bulolo, Sam Basil, to reconsider the signing of the MoU.
The landowners gathered on Saturday at Genghen in Mumeng, Bulolo District.
The development of the Wafi Golpu mine project, signed by the Government last week Tuesday triggered the frustration from the landowners.
The Wafi Golpu project is an underground gold and copper mine. It’s located in the Huon Gulf district in Morobe.
It is a seventeen billion kina project and will operate for more than 20 years. The developers of the project are Newcrest and Harmony.
According to the landowners, they have no share in the mine project and were not included in any consultation with the Government and the mine developers.
The landowners will submit a 7-days petition to the National Government once it is approved by the Tutumang.
