Yandera mine study due next month

By MALUM NALU

A feasibility study on the world-class Yandera copper mine in Madang province, one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in the Asia-Pacific, is expected to be completed by next month, The National reports.

Developer Marengo Mining, in its latest update released this week, also announced that work was progressing on a formal construction agreement with China Nonferrous (NFC), for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to be signed by the fourth quarter of this year.

“The feasibility study is continuing in parallel with the production of information required for the various mining and environmental permits,” Marengo said in its March quarterly report.

“On March 5, 2012, the environmental inception report (EIR), which is the precursor to the environmental impact statement (EIS) was filed with the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation.”

The EPC contract will be entered into during Q4-2012, following receipt of the EPC pricing from NFC.

“Under this arrangement, Marengo will appoint NFC as the principal contractor, under a turnkey, lump sum contract which will activate NFC's role to facilitate financing for the Yandera Project, for at least 70% of the project development costs, through its nominated Chinese financial institution,” the quarterly report said.

 “Marengo has engaged Standard Bank to advise in this process.”

Yandera, 95km south-west of Madang town, is hailed as a major copper producer in the making with its value underpinned by a world-class resource base at Yandera Central.

Marengo also announced:

·         Drilling would continue;  

·         PNG government participation was anticipated ;

·         Discussions were advancing with Chinese banks for project financing ;

·         Standard Bank had been appointed as debt adviser ; and

·         Exploration programmes were underway to target other identified mineral prospects.

According to the updated Yandera development timeline, production was scheduled to start in 2016.

This will be preceded by completion of feasibility study and fixed price EPC contract from NFC this year; mining approvals, environmental approval and complete project financing by third quarter of 2013; complete construction by third quarter of 2015; and commissioning in fourth quarter of 2015.

Belden Namah on arrest of Chief Justice

The whole statement is quoted verbatim

Today (Thursday) at 2pm the Police and Army entered the Supreme Court to arrest the Chief Justice on charges under the Criminal Code including breaches of Sections 54, 56 and 57 of the Code, being Sedition, Interference with Government Ministers and Interference with the Legislature.
Complaints were made to Police early this week concerning the Chief Justice, due to the statements made by the Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika and Justice Sakora concerning the lack of judicial integrity of the Chief Justice and his compromise of the Court Bench. 

Belden Namah

The two Judges refused to deliver a decision in the Special Reference concerning the questions of legitimacy of government on the basis that:-
a) Members of the Supreme Court Bench were effected by judicial bias,  and

b) Members of the Supreme Court Bench brought the integrity of the Supreme Court into question, and

c) The Supreme Court Bench was compromised and that a proper decision in accordance with law and untainted by bias was not possible.

The Chief Justice, Justice Kirriwom and Justice Gavara Nanu delivered their decisions despite the statements by the two most senior Judges on the Supreme Court.
Many persons in the media including prominent constitutional lawyer Loani Henao promptly called on the three remaining Judges to resign, given their clear lack of independence and integrity on the case. The Deputy Prime Minister in a press statement advised the three Judges that they had 24 hours to resign or to face arrest for sedition.
The Chief Justice reacted to this by issuing a Warrant of Arrest for the Deputy Prime Minister to be arrested and brought to the Supreme Court at 1.30pm today to be dealt with for contempt.
Police determined to act on the complaints against the Chief Justice and arrest him today and attended at the Supreme Court at 1.30pm along with the Deputy Prime Minister. On entering the Court room to arrest the Chief Justice, when the Chief Justice heard he was about to be arrested and he fled from the Court room and locked himself in his Chambers. The Director of Police Prosecutions and Assistant Commissioner Thomas Eluh negotiated with the Chief Justice to leave the Chambers.
The Deputy Prime Minister has said “Enough is Enough. The Chief Justice has ignored the proper exercise by the National Executive Council and the Governor General of their Constitutional powers for his suspension, and avoided the suspension by issuing a permanent Order to stay his own suspension."

Longtime PNG resident to contest Moresby South

Simon Merton, has nominated to contest the Moresby South seat.

 Merton, 41, a senior manager with Hebou Construction who has spent his entire life in PNG, is a member of Gary Juffa’s People’s Movement for Change.

 Merton and fellow candidates Albert Uru (Rigo), Labi Amaiu (Moresby North East), Juffa (Oro Regional,) and Rawali Bokuik (Moresby North West) nominated this week

Simon Merton (second from right) with fellow People’s Movement for Change candidates (from left) Albert Uru (Rigo), Labi Amaiu (Moresby North East), Juffa (Oro Regional,) and Rawali Bokuik (Moresby North West).

He grew up In Port Moresby, Lae and Madang, completed my primary school at the then Ela Beach Primary School and went on to complete high school at both Port Moresby and Lae International high schools.

  Merton has spent the last 25 years working both within the government and private sectors here in PNG and has nine children.

 “After many years of watching my beloved country deteriorate in front of my eyes, I have decided that I can no longer just sit back and watch,” he said.

 “I have a responsibility to our children, to our grand children, to all of our people, to stand up and try and do what I can.

 “I can no longer just watch in despair, I have to do something. 

 “I am not a wealthy business man; I am a working class family man who has had enough.

 “I will not be conducting a ‘lamb flaps and beer’ campaign that you may expect from other candidates, I do not have bucket loads of money to buy votes with.

 “What I do have is a heart and conscious for our people.

 “I am not going to make you extravagant undeliverable promises.
“All I can offer you is a promise that I will do my best to do everything I can do for the benefit of our people.

 “I will fight tooth and nail for our people.

 “I am tired of watching our people suffer at the hands of a corrupt few.” 

PNG's top judge arrested in new political crisis

(Reuters) - Police in Papua New Guinea stormed the Supreme Court in the capital and arrested the nation's top judge on sedition charges today (Thursday), in response to its ruling that the prime minister held power illegally and should step down.
On the day nominations closed for June elections, police arrested Chief Justice Salamo Injia after the court ruled former leader Michael Somare should be reinstated as prime minister.
Somare and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill have been jostling for power since August 2011, when O'Neill took office after Somare was ruled ineligible to be a lawmaker after a prolonged absence from parliament due to illness.
But the Supreme Court in December ruled Somare should be reinstated, and in another ruling this week the court said Somare should be the caretaker prime minister during the current election period.
O'Neill and his deputy Belden Namah have refused to accept the court ruling, accusing the judges of bias and demanding they resign, extending a prolonged feud with the judiciary.
Namah led armed police who arrived at the court as Injia started hearing today, forcing the judge to run to his secure chambers, where he remained holed up for several hours.
In a brief statement, he told reporters he would not be forced out of his job. "I've done nothing wrong. I will not resign," he said.
Injia was charged with sedition late today, and was released on bail. He was due to appear in court tomorrow (Friday).
The dramatic development comes after months of political uncertainty in Papua New Guinea, a resource-rich and often volatile nation of around 6.5 million people where 85 percent live a subsistence life in tropical villages.
O'Neill, who has the support of the majority of PNG's lawmakers, has attempted to recall parliament to deal with the latest court finding, but he has failed to muster a quorum three days in a row. Most lawmakers are in their electorates campaigning for the elections.
Somare, meanwhile, has written to PNG's media, warning they could be held in contempt if they do not recognise him as the legitimate prime minister.
Somare has also twice attempted to visit the country's governor-general to be sworn in as caretaker prime minister, in line with the Supreme Court rulings, but the titular head of state has refused to intervene.
PNG has vast mineral resources but struggles to pass on the benefits to its people. U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil is developing a $15.7 billion liquefied natural gas plant in PNG, the country's biggest-ever resource project

Prayer of St Francis for PNG

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Today's buai pekpek (betelnut shit) in Port Moresby

Old habits die hard! 
We may have so much money but PNG will never develop unless people stop the buai pekpek and general littering.
 And this doesn't cost anything!
Right now, keeping Port Moresby and PNG clean will do more for the health of PNG than all these political gobbledegook flying around!

This is the perennial 'Baruni Dump' in front of Mobil Service Station, Waigani!

Things that make you go 'yuck'!

Poor fella doing his best to clean up BSP Waigani, however, it'll be painted red before the end of the day!

Outside BSP Waigani!

Till hell freezeth over before this buai pekpek is cleaned!

 

Ok Tedi credit scheme spends over K256 million

By MALUM NALU

Over K256 million worth of projects have been implemented as of Dec 31, 2011, in Western province by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd’s tax credit scheme (TCS), according to OTML general manager – government and external relations Musje Werror, The National reports.

Since its inception in 1997, this money has been spent on key infrastructure projects in health, education, government housing, government offices, water, airstrips, wharves, jetties and roads.

Werror said current value of approved projects from 2012 to 2013 was approximately K140 million while forecast credits to 2014 was K200 million.

North Fly office complex in Kiunga, Western province, which was funded by OTML’s tax credit scheme

Main focus is on health and education institutions, with insufficient funds to implement other major projects such as new roads and support for government growth centres.

Werror told a mining and petroleum workshop for PMG media last Friday that this was an example of a successful public private partnership initiative that was bringing much-needed infrastructure development to the Western province.

“The TCS allows the State to use resource companies to build infrastructure without the need for an appropriation from Treasury,” he said.

“The scheme was introduced in 1992 and set at 0.75% of assessable income.

“This was increased to 2% in 1997 and reduced back to 0.75% in 2001.”

Werror said since 1997, the TCS had been funding infrastructure projects within the Western province, Telefomin district of West Sepik and a section of the Highlands Highway.

He said 50% of TCS funds – amounting to some K40 million – was allocated to the community mine continuation agreement (CMCA) region of Western province

“TCS continuation for MLE (mine life extension) is being planned in detail, however, forecast TCS credits anticipated will be much less than current figures,” Werror said.

“Three submissions have been made to the Department of Treasury to raise the current ceiling from 0.75% to 2%.

“The opportunity is there for OTML to make a bigger impact in the province and to contribute to the Western Province 2015 and the Government’s Vision 2050.

“The TCS also extends to the Telefomin and Oksapmin district in the Sandaun province.”

Werror said management of TCS was transferred to Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) at the beginning of this year.

OTDF’s responsibilities include:

• ·         Assisting  with the project appraisal;

• ·  Investigating, designing and preparing detailed documentation;

• ·         Seeking approval from the Fly River provincial government (FRPG), OTML management, OTML board and the Department of National Planning and Monitoring;

• ·         Tendering  and awarding using the OTML contract system;

• ·         Coordinating and managing project implementation;

• ·         Organising meetings with the stakeholders to update progress and arrange project site visits; and  

·         Managing the tax credits.