The Papua New Guinea Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) has called for ongoing dialogue and greater collaboration among all stakeholders in the alluvial mining industry. PNGEITI emphasised that cooperation is essential to address key challenges within the sector, including non-compliance, under-reporting of mineral production, and environmental concerns. This follows the recent 6th PNG Alluvial Mining Convention and Trade Show, held in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, from 24 to 26 September.
PNGEITI’s involvement in the three-day event was driven by several strategic objectives:
- Industry Development: Fostering stronger relationships through sustained dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders.
- Legislative and Policy Framework: Identifying gaps in the current legal and policy environment to enhance EITI processes, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in alluvial mining activities.
- Insight Gathering: Addressing critical issues such as non-compliance, under-reporting, gold smuggling, environmental impacts, and challenges faced by local landowners.
The convention sparked important discussions on a wide range of topics, including challenges in alluvial mining legislation, mechanised mining operations, and the market value chain for alluvial gold in Papua New Guinea. The biennial event brought together key stakeholders from the alluvial mining sector to exchange insights, tackle pressing issues, and strengthen collaboration to ensure the sustainability of this crucial industry.
The 2024 convention’s theme, “Protecting & Sustaining the Alluvial Mining Sector of Papua New Guinea,” called for a unified commitment to bolster the development and longevity of the sector, which remains a vital source of income for many local communities. PNGEITI highlighted concerns around discrepancies in production data, monitoring and regulation of gold exports, and the need for stronger government support to safeguard the interests of local miners.
During the event, Stanley Nekitel, Register of Tenements at the Mineral Resource Authority, described the alluvial mining industry as a “grassroots economic sector,” while expressing concern over declining production levels despite rising global gold prices. Oro Governor, Garry Juffa, also pointed out a contradiction between the increase in alluvial mining activity and the reported decline in gold production data, calling for immediate government action to improve monitoring, reporting, and policies that protect the interests of Papua New Guineans involved in the sector.
Industry representatives, including Justine Parker of Tribal Mining Limited and Raymond Wally, a leaseholder and tributer, raised concerns about the growing influence of foreign investments, money laundering risks, and the need to build financial capacity for local landowners. Their input underscored the importance of equitable benefit-sharing across all stakeholders within the sector.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Resource Evaluation Code of Practice (RECP), developed in collaboration with the PNG University of Technology. This code is designed to standardise responsible and sustainable mining practices across the alluvial mining industry, addressing long-standing issues related to environmental sustainability and operational transparency.
