Porgera fuel access restored

Local leaders at Mulitaka Landslide Disaster area in Enga province have agreed with security personnel and the Enga provincial government to allow the flow of fuel supply into Porgera mine on Sunday. Lead mediator and Enga State of Emergency Controller acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joseph Tondop said the conflict between security personnel and local communities of Mulitaka was settled and this allowed the flow of fuel supply for Porgera mine. Acting ACP Tondop said Ward members, tribal chiefs, local level government officials, district administration officials, Enga provincial law and order task force team, provincial administration and the security personnel came to a compromise to allow the flow of traffic and fuel between Mulitaka and Porgera along the Highlands Highway.

Porgera mine shut down operations last week Thursday due to shortage of fuel supply and is expected to resume operations today (Tuesday). The roadblock at Mulitaka started when aggrieved landslide disaster victims allegedly vandalised fuel pumping equipment belonging to Porgera mine that was used to pump fuel from one side of the landslide to the other side to load trucks with fuel tanks. It was reported that security personnel who responded to the vandalism allegedly shot a youth and burnt down a number of remaining houses at the vicinity of the landslide.



The Mulitaka to Porgera road was blocked off by angry locals for almost a month until on Sunday, ACP Tondop led the team to carry out mediation and allow flow of fuel, traffic and people. ACP Tondop assured that Porgera mine will resume operations starting today (Tuesday) after fuel supply started opening up yesterday (Monday)..