Central Lime Project to Deliver Economic Impact Across PNG

Papua New Guinea Mining Minister Rainbo Paita has announced that the landowner benefit agreement for the Kainantu Gold Mine has received clearance from the State Solicitor and will be officially signed tomorrow.

He made the statement in Parliament in response to Kainantu MP William Hagahuno, who questioned the delay in the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MoA) and the distribution of benefits. Paita confirmed the agreement had been pending for more than five years due to disputes among landowner groups.

 Kainantu Mine Landowner in Papua New Guinea  Benefits Package Set for Signing: Paita

MP Hagahuno said K92 Mining Ltd, which operates the Kainantu mine, remains one of the most profitable mining projects in the country and has been active for over two decades. He noted that this year alone, the company paid K161 million in corporate tax.

Hagahuno emphasised the importance of the agreement, stating that the MoA is essential for the mine's continued operation as it defines how benefits are to be shared among stakeholders, particularly landowners.

Minister Paita clarified that disagreements among Bilimoia landowner groups had previously stalled progress, but those disputes were taken to the special land commission while mining operations continued.

He commended the landowners for allowing production to continue during legal proceedings and revealed that discussions held last week during the PNG Resources Week led to consensus for the signing to proceed.

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