Mining companies must ‘give due care’ in dealing with social licensing: CLOs are important in mining operations, says Minister

Extracted from THE NATIONAL | EDITED

Mining Minister Johnson Tuke has urged all exploration and mining firms to conduct due diligence when it comes to affected customary landowners (CLOs) in project sites.

Tuke issued the warning following an incident at the Kainantu gold mine, Eastern Highlands, where one person was reported killed, 70 houses destroyed and 50 people injured following a conflict last week.

He told The National newspaper: “This is exactly what happens when certain exploration companies do not conduct due diligence when it comes to considering customary landowners.

“I am telling all companies to behave diligently, to accommodate customary landowners, communities.

“Companies should be the ones to conduct social mapping. They are required to do so under the license to operate.

[In PNG, every mining company has Lands and Community Affairs specialists who take charge of customary landowner grievances and concerns. Without which such can erupt and even cause major damages to the company as well. Land disputes are to be amicably addressed, not to prolonged and siding with other faction of the groups].

“This issue (Kainantu gold mine) was provoked by the K92 (K92 Mining Inc).

“There was one confirmed death, 60 to 70 houses burnt because of the involvement of the company to engage one faction of the landowner groups.

“The other faction put up an argument and eventually they ended up fighting.

“A similar case was earlier reported in Southern Highlands when an exploration company failed to address that.

“Now it has happened again in Kainantu. It’s not a good thing to see customary landowners fighting against each other.”

K92 Mining Inc is focused on advancing the Kainantu gold mine.

The Kainantu property covers a total area of approximately 410sqkm and was previously mined by Highlands Pacific and Barrick Gold from 2006-2009.

After being commissioned in 2006, the processing facilities operated for a cumulative total of approximately 7000 hours (292 days) before being put on care and maintenance by Barrick Gold.

Barrick continued this care and maintenance of the mill until the sale of the project to K92. – Via Garamut News.