MINING Minister Johnson Tuke is calling on the Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) to create a policy pathway for all alluvial mines in PNG to be fully reserved for Papua New Guineans only.
Minister Tuke made this call following the Southern Regional Consultations forum for the Mine and Works (Safety and Health) Bill 2021 which took place at the crown hotel in Port Moresby yesterday.
Minister Toke said at the moment Papua New Guinea does not have a policy guideline for the alluvial mining.
“Can we develop a policy that will encourage Papua New Guineans to involve in alluvial mining and that must be reserved to Papua New Guineans only?
“I am challenging MRA, I am challenging you the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM) to come up with a policy draft and empower Papua New Guineans to conduct alluvial mining and that has to be reserved.
“That is what we meant by ‘Take Back PNG’. Should we not reserve that or should we not allow everybody or anybody outside to come and exploit our resources.
“I am challenging DMPGM in the next cause of two weeks, I want to introduce this policy and capture that in the policy shift reserved that all alluvial mining licenses, all exploitive licenses and gold dug out of alluvial licenses or oil export licenses have to be reserved for Papua New Guineans only,” Minister Tuke said.
He further clarified that it is not the intention that the government wants to introduce changes which is not in MRA’s comfort but it is the approach and the change that will bring comfort, efficiency and effectiveness as well as lower risks.
“All these changes that the government wanted to introduce is not to suffocate it, but create an environment conducive so that we will cooperate in harmonious situation.
“We want to create an environment where all of us have to work in harmony. We have to create some surrounding Acts where Policy can create a situation where all parties can be able to have a share.
He said establishing a policy that guides the alluvial miners is to save the cost of low risk environmental damages.
The Mining Act 1992 allows people to mine for alluvial minerals on their own land by non-mechanical means without the need for a mining license; however, it may not depict some of the changes of managing alluvial mines.
He also called on other relevant authorities within the Mining and Petroleum sector for all to work together in creating a safer environment and policy making guidelines for all mines to be better managed and effectively functioned.
The consultation marks the second phase of the Mines and Works (Safety and Health) Bill 2021 which concentrates on the Miming Safety Act (1977). The Bill has already been drafted.
The basics of the bill basically focused on risk management and mitigation. You play the risk, you must take ownership to manage and mitigate.
The first phase of the bill which is the review of the mining Act (1992) has already been made and is before the cabinet for review.
Participants for the consultations include the Department of Mineral Policy & Geohazards Management (DMPGM), Mineral Resource Authority, Labour & Industrial Relations and the Provincial & Local Level Government Affairs.