Local contractors in Porgera have lost an estimated K111 million since the mine shut down.
This was disclosed by the Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) who according to its president, Nickson Pakea, said there were around 136 local contractors who provide servicing, support and heavy equipment parts.
He added that businesses in the area have felt the sting of the lockdown, saying that the government needs to look at other ways to open the mine.
“The mine shutdown has affected these businesses in a very big way and we are actually feeling the pinch,” he said. “We have 136 local contractors, that’s a composition of contractors supplying heavy equipment. We also have other micro-small to medium enterprises that benefit from the mine and local contractors apart from the national contractors. We have lost about K111 million over the last eight months. In Porgera, we only have mining which is our lifeline so when the mine shut down everything went down. We have been depending on the mine in terms of power, roads other basic services.”
Pakea welcomed the idea that the government will open the mine next year but urged to open them sooner. He also asked them to look and find ways to work out the landowner issues.
The chamber also acknowledged the assistance of the government of K10mil for the trucking industry.
