MRA Refutes Claims of Unlawful Practices

MRA Refutes Claims Of Unlawful Practices Regarding New Porgera Mine

The signing of the Mining Development Contract (MDC) and the Grant of Special Mining Lease (SML) 13, for the New Porgera Project, complied with due processes and laws, said Mineral Resources Authority’s Acting Managing Director Jerry Garry.

Mr Garry said the ongoing consultations and negotiations pertaining to Community Development Agreements (CDA) formerly called Memorandum of Agreements (MoA), also conform to the established processes.

Mr Garry was responding to recent public statements by individuals who claimed unlawful practices in the signing of the MDC and CDA for the project.

He said with regards to Compensation Agreements (CA), the National Government would ensure these mandatory agreements, between New Porgera Limited (NPL) and landowners, are signed before NPL can commence mining operation.
Section 155 of the Mining Act requires a compensation agreement to be in place between the holder of the tenement and the landholders, before the tenement holder can enter and occupy the land, for the purpose of mining.

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