PNG Mining Minister to deliver revised mining MOAs

MINING Minister Byron Chan will be delivering to Cabinet a total of six revised memorandum of agreements (MOA) for mining projects around the country. They are for Hidden Valley, Tolukuma, Ok Tedi, Simberi and Sinivit. The only new mining project MOA is for Woodlark. The mining project MOAs were the result of negotiations over the last two years. In accepting them on Monday, Mr Chan commended the Mineral Resources Authority for a tremendous effort in delivering the revised agreements for the government.

 “I am advised that what you (MRA) have delivered is unprecedented. For the MRA to deliver six over a period of two years is very commendable,” Mr Chan said. MRA managing director Philip Samar when presenting the documents to Mr Chan, said the output was testimony to the efficiency and commitment of the government to deliver on its commitment on reviewing the various MOAs. He acknowledged the assistance of various state agencies and also thanked project stakeholders including landowners for their patience and participation in the process.

 “The negotiations, as difficult and challenging as they might be, are actually the easy part. The real challenge is, and has always been, for the various parties to these MOAs to fulfill and deliver on their various commitments,” he said. Mr Samar highlighted that improvements were needed to make them more open and transparent and availed to the general public, given PNG’s participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) protocols. The MOA reviews for Porgera, Lihir, Crater Mountain, Solwara1 and Kainantu will commence this year. Post Courier