Papua New Guinea MINING Minister Johnson Tuke says he will table an alluvial mining Bill at the next parliament sitting.
Tuke said this in response to questions from Northern Governor Gary Juffa.
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| PNG Mining Minister to table alluvial mining bill when Parliament . Photo by PNG MRA |
He said one of the main benefits that would come from the bill was that all alluvial gold extracted would be refined and exported through an established process. He said the bill was currently with the state solicitor’s office.
“Alluvial mining activity in this country is not stand alone policy,” Tuke said.
“Because it is a mining activity, it is integrated with the main mining act.”
Tuke said the Government wanted to bring in a standalone alluvial mining act and it was now going through the process to achieve that outcome.
He told Parliament that alluvial mining activity was a business reserved for Papua New Guineans.
“One of the new policies in the upcoming alluvial mining bill is to involve more (Papua New Guineans) in that activity.
“We want to give more benefits to Papua New Guineans so all the alluvial gold produced must go through a refining process and be exported.
“That’s one of the benefits that the government wants given to those involved in alluvial mining activities in this country,” the Kainantu MP said.
“Hard rock mining is for international partners who have money, who come in and work in partnership with the government.
“But for alluvial mining, it’s a reserved business which more Papua New Guineans must be involved in.”
Juffa said he was concerned the gold business was being controlled by foreigners who were not buying gold at the fair market prices.
The National / Pacific Mining Watch
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