Photo credit: PNGEITI - Porgera Mine
The Porgera chamber of commerce and industry hopes that the re-opening of the mine will go ahead as planned.
Chamber president Nickson Pakea said the mine must be re-opened next month as announced recently by Prime Minister James Marape.
Pakea said the mine closure had led to criminal activities.
“The mine ensures business activities continue and keeps locals busy,” he said.
“During its closure, people have nothing to do and easily end up in (illegal) activities.”
Pakea said around the valley, nearly 3,000 businesses registered with the Investment Promotion Authority had been dormant because of the slump in economic activity. The chamber has about 706 members, 210 of which are contracted to the mine.
The Porgera mine is a joint venture between Barrick Niugini and Zinjing Mining Ltd.
It was closed in 2019 when the special mining lease expired.
In 2020, care and maintenance began while awaiting negotiations between the developers, the Government and the landowners. “The Government, in a way, has failed us because the recent fighting has been the worst in history in the valley,” he said.
“We’re (therefore) excited with the (scheduled reopening) in December.
“Re-opening the mine will bring back all the services ceased since the closure.”
Reference: The National (15 November 2022). “Chamber hoping mine re-opens as planned”.
