Minister for Mining, Byron Chan has confirmed that the government is facilitating a meeting between current parties to the Porgera Mine Project Memorandum of Agreement.
It will also discuss the outstanding issue on Barrick’s relunctance to become a party to the revised MOA.
In the MOA Review held in Kokopo last week, Barrick Gold expressed relunctance to becoming a party for various reasons, however, landowners have insisted that Barrick be included.
Following the recent Porgera Mine Project Review in Kokopo, Minister for Mining, Byron Chan, in a statement, said that discussions from the forum maintained that Enga Provincial Government and Porgera Landowners want Barrick to be a party to the revised Porgera MOA.
Barrick has been an observer in all the reviews all these years.
The Minister has written to the developer, however, they maintained their position that they do not wish to be a party. Therefore, the State respects Barrick’s decision, but supports the need for a roundtable meeting between the MOA Parties to address this issue.
Minister Chan has invited Senior Executives of Barrick, Enga Provincial Government and the landowners to participate. He said the government is committed to resolving the matter so parties can attend to execute the revised Porgera MOA this year.
Some of the benefits agreed at the proper MOA Review include the transfer of Paiam hospital to the Enga Provincial Health Authority, State funding of K10 million for the Porgera – Tari Road, the proclamation of Porgera Urban LLG, and the resettlement of Special Mining Lease Landowners to land outside of the SML.
The actual Porgera Mine Project MOA review was conducted last week in Kokopo. However, a smaller meeting will be conducted soon to discuss Barrick’s position on the revised MOA.
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