Court rejects miner's bid

THE National Court last Friday threw out Simberi Gold Ltd’s (SGL) application to repossess its shipload of heavy machinery impounded by Papua New Guinea Customs, The National reports.

SGL made the urgent application before Justice Mark Sevua in Waigani, seeking leave for review against the impounding of its ship by customs (of the Internal Revenue Commission).

The ship is laden with heavy mining equipment and machinery that included trucks and mine supplies.

Sevua told the parties to first exhaust all avenues for consultation.

The court heard that the ship, berthed at Rabaul’s Simpson Harbour wharf, was now under the possession of customs because the heavy machinery and equipment were not legally declared.

Sevua told the parties they had yet to exhaust all avenues for consultation before referring the matter to court.

He then directed SGL to do so by sorting out the required and lawful declarations and payment of the excise duties for the undeclared goods on board the impounded vessel.

“SGM can sort this out with the IRC commissioner-general Betty Palaso first,” he added.

Sevua dismissed SGL’s urgent application and proceedings against the customs.

SGL is located in New Ireland’s Tabar group of islands.

 

 

Reopening of mine possible: Momis

THE reopening of the Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is a good possibility under the new regime, newly-elected president John Momis said last Friday, The National reports.

“I want the mine to reopen. However, this issue will depend mostly on the outcome of consultation and consensual meetings between the landowners and the administration,” he said in his first official trip.

Momis said the landowners would be consulted and their consent sought as this was the Melanesian way of decision-making.

“Realistically, this reopening will help generate money for the people to participate in the economy,” he added.

Quoting from his inaugural speech, Momis said one of the plans was for the people to pay tax to enable the new government to develop their region and to work towards achieving full autonomy and fiscal self-reliance under the peace agreement.

“Although my plan is to eventually reopen the mine, the final say rests with the landowners,” he said, adding that the only way his people would know and understand the new changes was for more awareness to be made regarding his principal tasks outlined in his inaugural speech.

He said with the massive awareness conducted, the people would be able to understand and participate in what the government was doing and be empowered.

Momis said the need for weapons disposal, full achievement of autonomy, democracy and good governance could only be achieved through information and awareness, as many lacked proper schooling.

He also said the new government would be looking at investments, seeking credible partnerships involving credible investments and credible resource owners.

“The credible donors are also welcome to Bougainville but all will have to work together to discourage stand alone organisations.

This will enable the region to develop a sufficient capacity to become subsidiary economic activities such as mining, etc.

“Otherwise spin-offs will flow out of people’s pockets,” he said.

Momis had arrived in Port Moresby for a weekend of official activities as the newly-elected president.

 

Volunteer youth ambassadors

By FRANK ASAELI of PNGPCL

 

Pictured are potential candidates for the Volunteer Youth Ambassadors Programme being implemented by PNG Ports Corporation Ltd to guide visiting tourists on cruise ships in Port Moresby.

PNGPCL organised a meet-and-greet where applicants were called into meet with company management and staff at the head office premises in downtown Port Moresby on Saturday, June 19  in an attempt to share, inform and understand what the programme was all about.

The event marked another milestone in the PNG Ports' history as the company embarks on running the Volunteer Youth Ambassador Programme that was launched in April this year.

PNGPCL chief executive officer Brian Riches said: "We have had an overwhelming response as you can see today and responses are still coming through.

"During this meet-and-greet session, you have each been provided with a questionnaire.

"The form is to be filled out and given to our officials."

He said the Volunteer Youth Ambassador Programme was a voluntary service and an initiative of PNG Ports to help manage the occasional cruise ships that visit Port Moresby.

In all, PNGPCL owns and operate 16 ports across PNG and the programme is ideal in that it will pave the way to expand this hospitality service to other ports thus promoting maritime tourism.

The Volunteer Youth Ambassador Program is a volunteer service and PNG Ports will provide all the necessities to ensure that PNG provides the best hospitality service for visiting tourists.

"You stand here as a proud Papua New Guinean, with a rich cultural heritage and over 850 languages spoken," Mr Riches said.

"You are in your own rights armed with diversified cultures that the countries of the world would envy you for – your traditional dances, sing-sing, arts and crafts, even the beautiful destinations around the country.

"You have it all and you should take this opportunity to showcase your heritage."

PNGPCL marketing and human resource employees will now ensure team leaders are selected to represent smaller groups and organise for the training of the volunteers very soon.

Till MRA is removed people will lose

From JAMES WANJIK

THE Department of Mining was smothered in 2007 for Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). The new Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management was set up in 2008 as a result of MRA. In May 2010 Parliament passed Environment (Amendment) Act to protect MRA. Now the Government will review mineral policy and mining law for MRA to regulate miners.

At core of MRA is money. Money in lustful terms with government acquiescence. Law on tax has been manipulated. No Parliamentary approval has been given to MRA to levy the miners production levy for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. It is a breach of section 209 of the Constitution.
Paying attention leaders will help people. So far leaders have been blind and deaf. Voice of people have been awoken recently. PNG is witnessing new wave of nationalism. Miners will regret.
Now that mineral policy and mining law will be reviewed to accommodate miners requirements the government will regret not being honest. Also the government is technically not in control of the review.
Here are truths government wants hidden;
1. MRA was created by World Bank;
2. MRA was brought into operation illegally for World Bank to give second loan to PNG for review of mineral policy and mining law;
3. Nellie James was one of two officers who accompanied World Bank consultant Graeme Hancock who negotiated second loan for PNG;;
4. World Bank parked loan funds with MRA;
5. Nellie James does not tell truth about status of last review of mineral policy and mining law under first World Bank loan;
6. Role of MRA in revision of mineral policy and law has not been clarified by Nellie James;
7. Till MRA is removed people will lose land and resource rights; and
8. Tucking truth Nellie James wants leaders to think she is doing something for PNG people when she is a mole for World Bank in PNG.
People must push leaders to remove MRA. That will make Nellie James and other moles to come out of hiding.

James Wanjik
Port Moresby
18 June 2010

Television reaches Henganofi at last

One of the two communication towers at Mt Hakuna in the Mehenave community area of Fayantina Local Level Government.Picture courtesy of HENZY YAKHAM

By HENZY YAKHAM

It is now a thing of the past for people in Henganofi district of Eastern Highlands province to travel some 30km into their provincial capital Goroka or Kainantu along the Highlands Highway to enjoy their favorite television programmes.
This follows the recent completion of installation work to erect two communication towers transmitting television signals in most parts of Henganofi district and the neighboring districts.
The towers were built at a cost of over K200,000 by local company, Highlands Cable Television and completed last month (May).
People have since been receiving EMTV signals and seeing television programmes including news and sporting events such the popular Australian National Rugby League (NRL) games on Fridays and this year’s State of Origin games.
Apart from most parts of Henganofi, the coverage areas include parts of neighbouring Okapa, Lufa, Kainantu and Ungai-Bena districts.
Member for Henganofi Ferao Orimyo said this was something totally new and important service which the people, particularly those with television sets, would not have to make the one-hour trip to Goroka just to see their favourite programmes.
Mr Orimyo said previously, many public servants and others had to travel all the way to Goroka and Kainantu to NRL games.
“The new service will enable people to receive EMTV programmes and will help educate and inform the people through news and current affairs programmes,” he said.
Mr Orimyo has also urged the people to look after such important services for the benefit of everyone.
A spokesman for Mehenave community in Fayantina Local Level Government, Pentox Sayo thanked Mr Orimyo for bring television programmes to their homes and communities.
“We don’t have to spend money and take the risks to travel to Goroka and Kainantu to watch NRL games because we can watch them right here,” Mr Sayo said.

APEC energy ministers give instructions on energy security and efficiency

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

 

Fukui, Japan, 19 June 2010 – In a Declaration issued today, APEC’s Energy Ministers have set down directions to advance energy security, improve energy efficiency and increase the clean energy supply in the APEC region.

New initiatives prescribed by the Energy Ministers include:

-          a Collaborative Assessment of Standards and Testing (CAST) scheme to boost trade and investment in energy efficient appliances;

-          a Nuclear Power Emissions Reduction Potential Study to assess the potential for nuclear power to reduce carbon emissions in interested APEC economies;

-          an APEC Smart Grid Initiative to evaluate the potential of smart grids to support the integration of intermittent renewable energies and energy management approaches in buildings and industry; and

-          the Low Carbon Model Town Project aimed at developing best practices to achieve low-emissions urban communities.

Additional tasks have been assigned to APEC’s Energy Working Group (EWG) including: to work with the International Energy Agency to improve the region’s oil and gas energy emergency response capacity; to contribute to initiatives that reduce energy commodity market volatility; to evaluate the potential of unconventional sources of natural gas and biofuels; and to promote the development and take-up of low-emission power sources (renewable, nuclear and fossil-fuels with carbon capture and sequestration) 

Ministers have further instructed the EWG to recommend a larger energy intensity reduction target for the APEC region, given that the goal set in 2007 of a 25 percent reduction by 2030 is likely to be far surpassed.

The Declaration also reiterates APEC’s commitment to rationalising and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption.

The full text of the Fukui Declaration on Low Carbon Paths to Energy Security: Cooperative Energy Solutions for a Sustainable APEC issued at the conclusion of the Ninth Meeting of APEC Energy Ministers may be accessed at:

www.apec.org/apec/ministerial_statements/sectoral_ministerial/energy/2010_energy.html

For more information contact: Linda Carroll on +65 9647 4847 or media@apec.org

Japan funds low-carbon model town project in APEC

Issued by the APEC Secretariat

 

Fukui, Japan, 19 June 2010 – Japan has donated JPY360,000,000 (approximately USD3.9 million) to promote energy efficiency activities and low-carbon measures in APEC.

In particular the funds will be used to support a low-emission urban development initiative approved by APEC Energy Ministers at their meeting in Fukui today.

“The Low-Carbon Model Town Project aims to introduce low-carbon technology at the level of society and not that of individual products. Over the next three years, APEC will select between 10 to 20 locations and conduct feasibility study projects to transform these cities into low-carbon cities,” said the Chair of the meeting, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Masayuki Naoshima.

The fund will also complement APEC’s existing capacity building activities on energy efficiency, the development and implementation of alternative energy sources, and the promotion of trade and investment in environmental goods and services. 

“I hope that this fund will accelerate the low-carbon transformation and contribute to energy security in the region,” explains Minister Naoshima.

APEC Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor welcomed the contribution saying, “APEC’s objective is to build prosperous regional economies. Activities supported by the fund will help APEC members achieve economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and create new opportunities for ‘green’ industries.”

Japan’s contribution will be distributed through APEC’s Sub-Fund on Energy Efficiency which was established in 2009 when Japan made an initial donation of JPY 120,000,000.  Chinese Taipei and the United States have also contributed to the sub-fund.

The donation was made under a Memorandum of Understanding signed today by Minister Naoshima and Ambassador Muhamad Noor at the close of the 9th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting.

For more information: please contact media@apec.org or visit www.apec.org