POGERA MINE TO REOPEN BY JUNE BUT PRESSING OUTSTANDING ISSUES YET TO RESOLVED SAYS ENGA GOVERNOR

By Mortimer Yangharry, in Wabag, Enga Province

Veteran Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas told the Enga Provincial Assembly on

Monday afternoon that the delay in the reopening of the Pogera mine is not necessarily caused by the national government nor the provincial government but by pressing issues at hand.
Sir Peter informed the Provincial Assembly that the delay in reopening of the Pogera mine was due to the pressing shareholding issues and complicated necessary taxation processes which the national government had no control over.
He admitted that for the last three years, the internal revenue of the province was badly affected due to the premature closure of the mine.
"Impact projects funded by the tax credit schemes and other royalties from the mine did not happen since May 2019 when the Pogera gold mine shut down its operations," Sir Peter said.
The veteran Governor admitted the difficulties the provincial government faced since the closure but sincerely acknowledged the Marape-Rosso government for allocating more developmental and project funds to the province since the closure.
"The K514 million budget is all the money given to us by the national government in Provincial Support Improvement Project (PSIP) funds, District Support Improvement Program (DSIP) funds, national grants and other government commitments for 2023," Ipatas clarified.
The People’s Party Parliamentary Founder told the first provincial assembly meeting for this year that internal revenue for the province will significantly pick up towards the end of the year when the reopening of the mine is expected to commence.
In his closing remarks , Sir Peter told all the leaders present that all the 6 districts will significantly benefit accordingly to spin off benefits that will be shared equally unlike past arrangements.
The Enga Governor since 1996 acknowledged the tireless efforts of the Acting Provincial Administrator Mr.Sandis Tsaka in getting the money plan for the province in order and in time and being one of the first province to get its yearly budget done early.
Picture: Veteran Enga governor Sir Peter Ipatas (middle) chairing the first Provincial Assembly Meeting of the year on Tuesday at the Provincial Assembly Hall, Ipatas Centre.