Wafi-Golpu Mining Warden Hearing at Wenebele and Bawaga Villages.

The Mining Warden Hearing for Wafi-Golpu Support tenements for SML 10 application commenced on Monday the 2^nd of July 2018 at Wenebele and Bawaga Villages.

The Wenebele village of Yanta clan and Bawaga Village of Hengambu comprising of Elemu Gwagu and Demagu clans and Wonkins Village of Babuaf Clans are the primary landowners of the SML area and together with the LMPs and MEs under application for the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture.

Yanta clan have four groups while Hengambu has three Landowner groups/clans have turned up during the meeting in numbers and gave their views in regards to the tenement applications.

Firstly, the Community Affaires superintendent of Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture, Mr.David Masani introduced the warden hearing team to the landowners and opened with a word of prayer to commence hearing. Then handed over to chief Mining Warden of Papua New Guinea, Mr, and Andrew to actually proceed into the Mining Warden Hearing.

The Chief Warden , Mr, Andrew Gunua conducted the Mining Warden Hearing  for Mining Easements comprise of ME 91, Me 93, ME 94. He explained the process of application with displays of posters and explained simplified illustrations with the flow chats of how an SML and supporting tenements are granted following due processes.

He further explained the warden hearing procedure and order of hearing.

The Chief Warden then allowed the company representative to explain to the warden hearing parties of the amendment to the orginal applications and the new work plans and David Masani explained exactly the company’s intention for the three amended ME applications.

The Chief Warden after recording the company’s work plan, he allowed the landowners to give their views whether they support the company’s application or object the applications. The people raised few concerns and asked few questions for the benefit of doubts of which the Chief Warden provided response which were of satisfactory to them.

The Chief Warden then closed the meeting upon satisfying all the requirements under the Mining Act 1992 regarding wardens hearing.

Further questions regarding benefits and other agreement meetings were raised after the meeting and the landowners were advised that, there will be a Development Forum of which the Mining Minister will officially open for them to further discuss matters of this regard.

The Project Coordinator Moses Mambu briefly explained the Development Forum to the landowners and the landowners were looking forward to the Development Forum later during the month.

The same procedure was followed at the Bawaga Village and warden hearings for ME 91, me 93 and ME 94 at both venues were successfully completed. These conclude the Mining Warden Hearing for the First Day and the warden hearing team anticipates  to complete the rest of the hearings in the remaining days.



Chief Mining Warden, Mr.Andrew Gunua Explaining the Flow Chat for SML Application Process at Yanta Community Hall

Landowner Acting Deputy President of Yanta, Mr.Johnson Ruben Responded during the Warden Hearing at Wenebele(Yanta Community Hall)

Read More

Wafi-Golpu SML 10, Mining Warden Hearing for Supporting Tenements.

The Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture is a 50/50  joint venture between Newcrest and Harmony Gold to fund and operate the Wafi-Golpu porphyry gold-copper deposit in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea.

The Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture has applied for a Special Mining Lease SML10 with the Mineral Resources Authority(MRA), together with supporting Tenements such and Lease for Mining Purposes(LMP) and Mining Easements(ME).

Mining Warden Hearing is one of the requirements under the Mining Act 1992 and is part of application process for lease grant. Thus, part of the hearing for SML 10 were conducted in 2016 .

Due to some technical considerations, part of the feasibility study was ongoing during the submission of SML 10. Thus, some of the support Tenements were lodged with the MRA  later in 2017-2018.

As such, Mining Warden Hearings for the support Tenements will be conducted on the 2nd July 2018 to 5th July 2018.

The Hearings will start at Yanta Community Hall and Hengambu Community Hall on Monday 2/7/18.
Then on Tuesday 3/7/18 Hearing will continue at Babuaf Community Hall.
on Wednesday,4/7/18 Hearing will be at Wampar LLG Hall near Nadzap airport and at Zifasing at 40 Mile.
On Thursday 5/7/18, Hearing will conclude at Lae indoor sports stadium and Wagang Hall.

The awareness of the Tenements were  conducted by the company officers at the affected communities and the landholders of the affected communities are expected to turn up during the fixed dates and time to give their views whether to support or object the applications and their proposed Tenements/facilities.

Read More

Mining Warden Hearing in Papua New Guinea

Mining Warden Hearing is an open forum to gauge public views of the people who would be affected by an exploration work program or any activity related to mining. It is one of the requirements in the Mining Act 1992 for any kind of mining related licence/lease grant.

Warden Hearing is conducted in accordance with Section 108 of the Mining Act 1992. During the Mining Warden Hearing, the warden on the ground explains the purpose of the meeting and allow the applicant or an agent  of the applicant to explain the work program in brief to the stakeholders present. The applicant/agent explains the work program or the proposal for development to the warden and the people at the hearing venue on the date and time fixed for the hearing.

The warden then allow the people who are within the tenement boundary or  just around the tenement boundary who would be affected by the applicant's proposal for development to give their views and further advise them to make clear their stand with reasons whether they support the application or otherwise. The warden then records and assess the views of the affected landholders.

The warden also allow people whom he considers that, the work program for the applicant will also affect them to give their views as well and he will record and assess them.

Finally the warden allows the local government representative of the host province if any present at the hearing venue on the date and time fixed for hearing to give the views on behalf of the host government whether it could be Local Level Government or Provincial Government.

Without further delay the warden thank all the people for fulfilling the requirements under the Mining Act 1992 under Section 108.

The warden may adjourn the hearing from time to time and from place to place where feasible and economical.

The Warden prior to opening the hearing, he explains that anything related to land disputes and environment matters are not discussed in this forum.  Such disputes or issues are to be brought forward to relevant government bodies to address them accordingly. i.e. Land dispute matters to be brought to the attention of Lands and Physical Planning Department and Environment matters to Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).

Mining Warden Hearing at Ok Isai, for the Frieda River SML 9 Application in the West Sepik Province 

Read More

Landowner Compensation in Mining Industry of Papua New Guinea

Landowner compensation is any sum of money paid by an exploration or mining company based on the value of disturbances caused by the company during exploration or mining.

Landholders of any exploration or mining activity are entitled to receive compensation payment depending on the value of disturbance to the environment. The Exploration company or the mining operator is liable to pay compensation under the  Mining Act 1992 (S.154) for Papua New Guinea.

During the exploration phase, there are no agreements signed between landholders and the explorer prior to exploration. Only mutual agreements are made prior  to actual exploration and compensation is paid according to Valuer General's Latest Schedule. The Latets Valuer General's Schedule is the 2013 version. Other rates for the extractive industry can be access at the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum office.

Prior to entry and occupation and development of a Mining or ancillary operation to mining, a Compensation Agreement is a requirement for the developer and the landholders whom they will be affected by the mining operation or its related operation(s). Once agreements are signed and registered, it becomes legal document that will guide the operation in the intended aspect.

Compensation payment can be one-off payment or periodic payment depending on the agreement. In exploration, they are one-off payment of compensation in which one cannot claim compensation on the same area which was already compensated.

Compensation Agreement in the Mining Lease or Special Mining Lease and related leases and easements is a requirement. Once it is registered for execution, it becomes a legal document and it guides the operation.

Typical Disturbance of Natural Topography

Read More