The National aka The Loggers Times | March 16, 2020 A GROUP of people concerned about the implications of deep-sea mining wants the Government to cancel the environment permit and mining licence granted to Nautilus Minerals Niugini Ltd. The group is led by Jonathan Mesulam of the Alliance of Solwara Warriors, Peter Bosip, the director for the Centre of Environmental Law and Community Rights, Marie Mondu, the development secretary of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of PNG and the Solomon Islands, and Cardinal Sir John Ribat, the Archbishop of Port Moresby, in association with the Catholic Bi ..read more

Matthew Vari| Post Courier | March 16, 2020 NEGOTIATIONS into Morobe’s Wafi-Golpu project is still pending according to project joint venture partner Newcrest Mining Limited. Newcrest Mining PNG country manager Mr Stanley Komunt said this in response this paper queries in relation to comments made by Mining Minister Johnson Tuke last month on government’s intention to resumes negotiation following the dismissal of the memorandum of understanding in court case relating to the project. Mr Komunt said the main reason for uncertainty was the relays [sic] in the proposed revised mining act, whi ..read more

Carmella Gware | Loop PNG | March 13, 2020 The PNG Government has fully transferred its entire 36.4 percent share in the Bougainville Copper Ltd to the Autonomous Bougainville Government. This was one of the resolutions reached during the first, and possibly the final, post-referendum Joint Supervisory Body meeting held on Thursday, the 12th of March, at Port Moresby’s APEC Haus. It was the first Joint Supervisory Body, or JSB, meeting to be held since the referendum last year. It is also the last JSB as its name has been changed to Joint Consultative Body, and this body will continue to p ..read more

 Deep sea corals provide habitat to a variety of organisms that could be destroyed by deep sea mining. Photograph: NOAA Proposed mining of seabed could destroy unstudied ecosystems and disrupt vital carbon-storing functions, says naturalist Karen McVeigh | The Guardian | 12 March 2020  Sir David Attenborough has urged governments to ban deep sea mining, following a study warning of “potentially disastrous” risks to the ocean’s life-support systems if it goes ahead. The study, by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), warns proposed plans to mine the seabed could cause significant loss of biodi ..read more

The Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea Derek Rose | Australian Associated Press | March 11, 2020 Australia’s largest listed goldminer says it expects to produce around 10 per cent less gold than previously forecast due to underperformance of its mines in Papua New Guinea and Western Australia. Newcrest Mining now only expects to produce 2.1 to 2.2 billion ounces of gold this financial year, down from a forecast of 2.38 to 2.54 billion ounces it made on January 30. The goldminer said increased production at its Cadia mine in central-west NSW and Red Chris mine in British Columbia, Canada won ..read more

TAYAW DANCE. Photo courtesy of Shar Balagtas and Susan Corpuz More than 100 indigenous women and women’s rights advocates in Brgy. Didipio in Kasibu town dance the Tayaw to protest the mining operations of OceanaGold Philippines Mavic Conde | Rappler | March 07, 2020 “Tayaw,” a traditional dance of the Tuwali tribe in Nueva Vizcaya, is about unity and the power to face threats against a community. On Friday, March 6, more than 100 indigenous women and women’s rights advocates in Brgy. Didipio in Kasibu town in this province danced the Tayaw to protest the continuing mining operations of Aust ..read more

Patrick Tom | Post Courier |  March 9, 2020 The country’s alluvial sector production and revenue has climbed to K550 million in 2019, an increase of K140 million from what it earned in 2018. Mineral Resource Authority regulatory operations manager Roger Gunson revealed during the launching of the Reducing Mercury in PNG ASGM sector last Friday that last year the country’s alluvial sector generates revenue of K550 million, and produced 120,000 OZ (ounces) of gold. When put that in perspective that’s similar to a medium size mine like Simbari mine in New Ireland. Mr Gunson said gold represen ..read more

Alluvial miners at work on Bougainville Cedric Patjole | Loop PNG | March 8, 2020 The Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) recently launched a project to reduce the use of mercury in small scale mining operations. The Project aims to identify the extent to which mercury is used in the industry and how it is used and by whom, in a bid to mitigate health risks. On March 6th, the ‘Reducing Mercury Use in Papua New Guinea’s Alluvial and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector’ Project was launched in Port Moresby, following a workshop with key stakeholders and project partners. The Alluvial Mining indus ..read more

Peter Esila | The National aka The Loggers Times | March 2, 2020 OK Tedi Mining Ltd in Western invests about US$20 million (K66.46 million) annually in drilling for reserves, chief executive and managing director Peter Graham says. Graham said current exploration was focused near the Mt Fubilan mine and within existing special mining lease (SML). “The most prospective targets indicate underground rather than open pit mining,” he said. Graham said the life of the mine, based on current reserves and mining rate, would end around 2027. “The mine is limited by an agreement with communities ..read more

Clean up to cost K10mil Peter Esila | The National aka The Loggers Times | February 27, 2020 IT may cost up to K10 million to detoxify and clean up cyanide at the abandoned Sinivit mine in East New Britain (ENB), an official says. Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) managing director Jerry Garry said the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) and MRA officials visited the site last year and had completed monitoring by sampling to test for elevated cyanide content in the soil and water sources. “There are interim plans to have security guards on site,” he said. “Cepa advised ..read more