The Papua New Guinea Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) made a significant contribution to the Porgera Community Development Forum, which took place at the Enga Innovative University Enga Campus last week.
The goal of PNGEITI’s participation was to integrate a clause into the Community Development Agreement (CDA) that would require parties to disclose their activities and financial information in accordance with EITI standards. This was aimed to foster greater transparency and accountability in the extractive industry.
The forum brought together impacted landowners, the Enga Provincial Government, New Porgera Ltd operator Barrick Niguini Limited, and the State team led by the Mineral Resources Authority, benefited from PNGEITI’s neutral presence.
The transparency body, comprising government agencies, extractive industry companies, and civil societies, played a crucial role in encouraging open discussions and fostering better collaborations and negotiations among the parties. The level of trust and confidence among the parties was noticeably enhanced throughout the process.
By taking on a neutral stance, PNGEITI was able to provide a platform for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue, ultimately promoting a more collaborative and transparent approach to the discussion of community benefits of the New Porgera Mine.
