Weak Capacity And Lack Of Accountability A Challenge In Mining Sector

Weak Capacity And Lack Of Accountability Remains A Challenge In Implementing Legislation And Policies In The Mining And Petroleum Sector.

Post Courier | June 28, 2017

Weak capacity and lack of accountability remains a challenge in implementing legislation and policies in the mining and petroleum sector.
This is according to the PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Report 2014.
The report states that lack of transparency also leaves the way open for corruption.
It also noted that a revised Mining Act will be presented to Parliament after 2017 elections.
This will include regulations for offshore mining, mine closure and rehabilitation, resettlement and geothermal resources and standards for employing mine workers.
The Mining (Safety) Act is also under review.
The report also highlighted that the relationship between three different legislation including the Environment Act 2000, Mining (Ok Tedi Agreement) Act 1976 and (Bougainville Copper Agreement) Act 1967, is unclear as the former has not been repealed, nor have the references to it in the mining Act been amended.
It said, the petroleum industry is governed by the Oil and Gas Act 1998, (OGA) and the Oil and Gas Regulation 2002 under the administration and management of the Department of Petroleum and Energy (DPE), headed by the minister for Petroleum and Energy.
“The OGA specifies regulatory instruments for oil and gas development activities such as: licensing, exploration, development, processing, storage, transportation, and sale of products,” the report said.
PNG EITI head of National Secretariat Lucas Alkan said: “It is only fitting to have such a robust legislative and policy framework for a resource rich country like ours.”
“The PNGEITI has already capitalised on such fiscal and legislative setting”.