Picture: Sir Julias Chan

Source: PNG Loop

Former prime minister and Governor of New Ireland, Sir Julius Chan has given notice to parliament to introduce new mining legislation that will give landowners more say in terms of minerals found in their customary land.

The changes if passed by Parliament will repeal the Mining Act 1992 which is under review by a State Working Group comprised of senior officials from the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management (DMPGM) and Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) in consultation with Industry Working Group and PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum.

In a consultative meeting last Friday at MRA Haus in Port Moresby, the respective groups informed Mining Minister, Byron Chan that the revised Mining Act policy was in draft stage and has made considerable progress.

Chan, MRA boss Philip Samar and Greg Alexander from the Chamber of Mines and Petroleum were present at the meeting.

Both working groups have discussed that all policies will be concluded in October and by November, the Mining Minister will take it to NEC for endorsement and tabled in February, 2015.

However, they noted that more time should be given so that the working teams look into the specifics of three policies mainly geothermal, sustainable mining and involuntary resettlement policies.

“The Mining Act is a very sensitive issue that needs more time to furnish so that by 2015, we will have a globally competitive policy and legislative framework,” says Chan.

The World Bank sponsored mining review looks at reviewing key areas of the long overdue 1992 Mining Act following wide regional consultations in 2013 by the DMPGM which includes:

• Mining Act regulations;
• Mining (safety) Act regulations;
• Sustainable mining development policy;
• Involuntary resettlement policy;
• Mine closure policy; and

Geothermal & off-shore mining policy