The government hopes to issue the Special Mining Lease (SML) for the Wafi Golpu project by October, 2023.
Mining Minister Hon Sir Ano Pala, revealed this on Thursday in Lae, during the Wafi Golpu stakeholders consultative meeting.
Sir Ano said there were only three processes left that needed to be completed before the SML could be granted. They are the staging of the Development Forum, completion of the Mining Development Contract (MDC) and the cabinet’s approval for the SML to be granted.
The Minister appealed to the landowners and impacted communities of the project, to work with the government to ensure necessary processes such as the Development Forum is successfully staged. He urged them to negotiate well for their benefits, and assured them of the government’s support throughout the processes.
Hon Pala said the Marape-Rosso Government had achieved its objective, which is to ensure greater benefits are received by PNG Stakeholders.
He said it was the government’s desire to see tangible transformation in the livelihoods of its landowners.
“I urge all stakeholders to cooperate with the Mining Ministry and the MRA, to negotiate the anticipated benefits in the true spirit of respect, honesty and fairness, to achieve a win-win outcome for everyone,” said Minister Pala.
