PM Marape to visit Porgera Today

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is set for a two-day visit to Porgera, Enga Province today  (Friday, June 4th 2021).

The visit is to meet the people of Pogera and to explain to them what the government has secured for them in the Porgera Mine deal and what they need to know. 

Mr. Marape made this known at a news conference in Port Moresby on Thursday. 

''Am going to Pogera tomorrow (Friday) to see our people, to sleep with our people, hear from the people and discuss what we have secured for them as far as the Frame Work Agreement is concerned.

''And, seeing some of the development forums processes that will take place after my handover of the Framework Agreement publicly tomorrow,'' said Marape.

Marape is expected to hand over a framework agreement for the reopening of the Porgera Mine in Enga to the landowners. He said this in a statement yesterday following reports that the landowners wanted his visit this week to be called off. “Since taking office on May 30, 2019, I have advocated for a greater share of the benefits from our resources to landowners and that stands,” Marape said. “That is why we have amended existing resource laws including the Mining Act 2020 and Oil and Gas Act 2020 to ensure that landowners get a fair share. “My visit to the Porgera Mine in Laigaip-Porgera this week is to talk to the affected landowners, the mine management and other mine-affected communities. “One of the main reasons is to formally hand over the framework agreement (for the reopening).

“The landowners will get a copy of the agreement before any awareness is carried out, which will include the Enga government and their community leaders.” He said landowners and communities in Porgera knew well the impacts of the mine and the benefits they got. “I look forward to meeting the people of Porgera and speaking to the affected landowner communities and the Enga government with the developer Barrick soon,” he said. The Government plans to set a date for a development forum where all benefits will be heard and discussed. Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nickson Pakea said the PM’s trip this week would restore confidence to the business community and the people. He said since the mine’s closure, Porgera had been facing so many law and order issues resulting in the loss of lives and livelihood. “The businesses and community are glad to welcome the delegation in Porgera to see the mine reopening,” he said.

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