PAPUA NEW GUINEA NEWS, FACTS, INFORMATION, STORIES AND INSPIRATIONS

Governor Allan Bird Demands Marape's Removal

Image
Governor Allan Bird Demands Marape's Removal Allan Bird, the governor of East Sepik, is speaking out against how Papua New Guinea (PNG) is being run. He's not happy with Prime Minister James Marape and wants things to change. Allan Bird is becoming a big voice in the opposition party. He's known for being honest and talking about the problems people care about, like bad government and lack of honesty. He says people are tired of the government's decisions. One of the things Allan Bird is criticizing is the Connect PNG program. This program is supposed to improve roads and other infrastructure across the country. But Allan Bird says the money isn't being used properly. He wants to know where the money is going and if it's really helping people. This raises questions about whether the government is being honest about how it spends money. Allan Bird's speech has started a big discussion about who should be leading PNG and how the country should be run. He...
Post a Comment

PNG PRIME MINISTER JAMES MARAPE WELCOMES PROGRESS ON PORGERA AND WAFI-GOLPU MINES

“My Government has shown support for both Porgera and Wafi-Golpu by approving over K900 million each as Infrastructure and Business Development funds for both project area land owners and provincial governments,” PM Marape said. “We will go to our landowners and provincial governments as soon as headline agreements and other legal requirements are progressed.”

“The New Porgera is historic for PNG because this operation will be the first time PNG companies – representing Landowners and Government – will hold a combined 51 per cent equity while investors will hold the 49 per cent balance. “Wafi-Golpu is a new green field project and cannot be compared to Porgera, however, I will use the same bargaining principles,” - PM Marape

“My Government has shown support for both Porgera and Wafi-Golpu by approving over K900 million each as Infrastructure and Business Development funds for both project area land owners and provincial governments,” PM Marape said. “We will go to our landowners and provincial governments as soon as headline agreements and other legal requirements are progressed.” “The New Porgera is historic for PNG because this operation will be the first time PNG companies – representing Landowners and Government – will hold a combined 51 per cent equity while investors will hold the 49 per cent balance. “Wafi-Golpu is a new green field project and cannot be compared to Porgera, however, I will use the same bargaining principles,” - PM Marape


PNG PRIME MINISTER JAMES MARAPE WELCOMES PROGRESS ON PORGERA AND WAFI-GOLPU MINES

Marape-Rosso Government 2022: APPROVED FOR RELEASE : OCTOBER 10, 2022.

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has welcomed Barrick Gold President and CEO Mark Bristow and Newcrest Mining Ltd Managing-Director and CEO Sandeep Biswas who are here to work with the Government on progressing Porgera and Wafi-Golpu mining projects.

PM Marape said the Barrick team led by Bristow, and the Government team led by Mining Minister  Hon. Ano Pala and Porgera MP Hon. Maso Karipe, travelled to Porgera today (Monday, October 10, 2022) for a security forum as well as check on the restart progress made to date.

He also announced that he would attend to the delayed Wafi-Golpu himself to bring it to conclusion as a matter of urgency.

“My Government has shown support for both Porgera and Wafi-Golpu by approving over K900 million each as Infrastructure and Business Development funds for both project area land owners and provincial governments,” PM Marape said.

“We will go to our landowners and provincial governments as soon as headline agreements and other legal requirements are progressed.”

PORGERA

“Barrick, as the operator of the joint-venture company, has already recruited over 1500 Papua New Guineans and we are now moving into the final stages of ticking off all regulatory requirements with Mineral Resources Authority and Mining Department,” PM Marape said.

“The New Porgera is historic for PNG because this operation will be the first time PNG companies – representing Landowners and Government – will hold a combined 51 per cent equity while investors will hold the 49 per cent balance.

“I thank Mr Bristow and Barrick Gold - which appreciated our Government’s policy to hold 51 per cent share in the New Porgera.

“It is unprecedented in our country for a super major gold company, currently the second-biggest in the world, to allow itself through negotiations with Government to own less than PNG parties and at the same time operate the mine.”

PM Marape said Papua New Guineans and investors must note that 15 per cent of the equity would not be paid by PNG. 

“This means that we pay only 36 per cent of the 51 per cent,” he explained.

“Both Barrick and the National Government have agreed that the 15 per cent is to be passed to Enga people and the landowners, who have held the mine in the first 30 years of operation.

“The State will contribute 36 per cent but Barrick will raise the capital with no interest charged.

“I commend Barrick for this ground-breaking partnership with PNG in benefit sharing of a major resource project.

“I assure all investors that negotiations with all of them will respect our operating legal and regulatory environment, and also the rate of return on their investments, just like we did with Barrick for the new Porgera.

WAFI-GOLPU

PM Marape assured the people of Morobe and PNG that he would attend to Wafi-Golpu himself to ensure it started as soon as possible.

“Wafi-Golpu is a new green field project and cannot be compared to Porgera, however, I will use the same bargaining principles,” he said.

“Through negotiations, if I can win extra for PNG, I will do so.

“The sector State Negotiation Team (SNT) has exhausted its negotiations with the developers and it is now the national SNT that will bring Wafi-Golpu to conclusion assisted by Morobe Provincial Government. 

“Both investors in Wafi-Golpu – Newcrest and Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd - aren’t new to PNG.

“They operate Lihir in New Ireland, the fourth-biggest mine in the world and Hidden Valley in Morobe, so it shouldn’t be long before we agree on the numbers for benefit sharing.”


RELATED NEWS

PORGERA LANDOWNERS WILL NOT BE LEFT BEHIND THIS TIME
Location: Papua New Guinea

Comments

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment here...

Full speech: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Address to Papua New Guinea's Parliament

POPULAR POSTS

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗬??? By Hon. Bryan Kramer

Image
 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗣𝗜𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗬??? By Hon. Bryan Kramer: Tue April 8 2025 Our Pati Leader, Hon. Paita, has issued a press statement reaffirms Our Pati's unwavering support for the Pangu-led Government and PM Marape, ahead of impending vote of no confidence (VoNC). "This is no time for political instability - it is a time for nation-building during a challenging period of our nation's history," said Paita, who also serves as Minister for Mining and Special Projects. Paita added:  "Why does stability matter? Our Pati's own experience have shown that political instability comes at high cost for PNG - especially when the nation needs unity above all else. It erodes investors confidence, delays major projects, and disrupts governance.  Countries like Singapore, Rwanda, and Fiji have thrived by prioritizing stable leadership and policy consistency. PNG must do the same." 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲: That's quite amusing - considering many of these ...
Read more

Appeal to MPs to Put the Country First - Media Statement By Hon. James Nomane

Image
MEDIA STATEMENT BY HON. JAMES NOMANE.  Appeal to MPs to Put the Country First (Monday 7 April 2025) Is Papua New Guinea better off since Honourable James Marape became Prime Minister in 2019? This is the key question that all MPs must ask themselves before the upcoming Vote of No Confidence (VONC) in April. All MPs must put the country first and not limit their focus to districts and provinces.  From 2019 to 2025 the cumulative budget total of the Marape government has been K156.8 billion, comprised of K39.9 billion (25%) debt financing and K116.9 billion (75%) tax revenue. This K39.9 billion debt is the highest incurred by any government since Independence and by the end of 2025 our national debt will reach K65.0 billion. This high level of debt will reduce investment in health and education and put more pressure on loan repayments.   We cannot see the cumulative effect of spending K156.8 billion in 6 years? Where are the notable public investments that are making ...
Read more

O'Neil's Condolence Message to the Late Rt. Honourable Sir Julius Chan, GCL, GCMG, KBE, PC and Governor, New Ireland Province and Former Prime Minister

Image
By: Peter O'Neil, MP. My speaking notes at the Funeral this evening of the Late Rt. Honourable Sir Julius Chan, GCL, GCMG, KBE, PC and Governor, New Ireland Province and Former Prime Minister Lady Stella Chan, Vanessa, Byron, Mark and Toea and your extended family Thank you for giving us the opportunity to pay our respects to this Great Leader of our country and our people.   Sir Julius as known to all of us, was a man amongst men. A leader of leaders and a statesman who dedicated his entire adult life contributing enormously to nation building.   As one of the founding fathers, Sir Julius served his country and people well. A service to his community and his stance on good governance are his public legacy. Shining examples of not just doing what is good for our people but also ensuring it is done right.   Doing the right thing is not always the easy thing but Sir J demonstrated over and over that this doing the right thing by Papua New Guinea was the only cou...
Read more

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

PLEASE FOLLOW AND SHARE

JOIN OUR GROUP

Total Pageviews