Cost of crime hits Porgera

Cost of crime hits Porgera

Postcourier (Papua New Guinea)

14 October 2003

LAW and order problems continue to plague the Porgera Gold Mine, says operations co-ordinator Ben Tureia.

These are mainly confined to three main areas – theft along the Highlands Highway, illegal mining and blowing up of power pylons.

Mr Tureia told the Enga Law and Order Summit in Wabag on Friday the mine lost millions of kina because of these.

“Our supply and equipment comes from the highway,” he said.

“We are no different to the normal traveller. Along the highway, our trucks are constantly being held up. Our equipment is tampered with and stolen and our fuel has been looted.

“Now, just as a figure for the last 12 months, through looting we have lost over 213, 804 litres. We need that fuel for our machinery and equipment. With that fuel lost, we’re lagging.”

Mr Tureia said the mine’s concern was that dangerous chemicals and explosives could fall into wrong hands. PJV had set up a special unit to escort and protect high-risk items.

He said illegal mining, despite a number of deaths, continued to flourish in the stockpile and dumping area. Illegal miners had also threatened and harassed PJV staff and damaged machines.

“We currently have about 1500 illegal miners,” he said.

“We can’t quantify the amount of product that’s being lost.

“We recently apprehended 100 illegal miners on our site, at the stockpile and dumping area, and fines imposed on them totalled K40, 000.”

Mr Tureia said he had seen people killed by falling rock and one man having his leg severed, however, this served as no deterrent to illegal miners.

Porgera’s third major concern is that pylons carrying electricity from Tari are constantly sabotaged.

“In total, since 2002, we have had approximately 55 towers damaged through sabotage,” Mr Tureia said.

“Twenty-three of these towers have been replaced. Last year, we lost three months of production due to this. Millions and millions of dollars were lost.”