- The Eastern Highlands
region of Papua New Guinea could be the next major mining zone especially—Gold.
And, the backwater townships of Kainantu and Henganofi exploration
region are gaining prominence as the focal point of intense exploration.
- The headwaters
of the mighty Ramu River which meanders through low lying down into
the ranges and plains— containing the Billion kina Ramu nickel-cobalt
deposit - starts in Henganofi and Kainantu Districts.
Kainantu had its first Mt Victor mine several kilometres west of Kainantu
township.
- The small scale
mine worth about five million kina was mined by Highlands Pacific
in the mid-nineties and about 70 kms south in the huge Mt Crater Valley
where major gold deposit is being tested and proven for exploration
quality by an overseas company in close liaison with the Resource
Owners.
- Then there is
the Bilimoia mine of 1.4 million ounces of gold with a 20-30 years
lifetime currently being mined. However amid all the hype and enthusiasm
in the Kainantu township and the deposit areas— a group of people
tucked away between one of the low lying ridges in between Ramu, Bilimoia,
Kainantu and Mt Crater believe they are living on a major deposit
of rare mineral including the much sought after gold.
- They are located
within the Henganofi District of the Eastern Highlands Province
These people have done their home-work after seeing the experiences
of Mt Victor small gold mine and the negotiations leading up to the
agreement on the Bilimoa mine just 10 kms northwest of their 'major
deposit'. Due to the loss of two lives as no proper precautionary
measures were taken by Highlands Gold Ltd in carrying out then exploration
work the resources owners objected to the company renewing its exploration
license when it expired in 2003.
- The resource
owners believe they can find a partner who can negotiate and make
a deal with them on mutually agreed terms. They engaged a local consulting
firm which reviewed the previous exploration activities of the area
and provided them with a report of the potential of their resource.
- Three target
areas under a joint-venture arrangement with a interested partner
was the target of the review. The Review Report recommended further
exploration to evaluate the economic value of the three target areas
in a three-phase exploration activity. Phase one—would include
detail mapping, soil sampling and IP & ground magnetic surveys.
Phase two - scout drilling & additional, mapping, sampling &
trenching and Phase three - delineation drilling, metallurgical sampling
& testing and feasibility studies.
- Manda Resource Owners Chairman, Mr. Fofome HUFOHU said,.." four major prospecting companies
had explored the Kesar Manda River deposit since 1982, spending many
years sampling and testing but none had gone further to mine the deposit
because of lack of infrastructure. The Bilimoia mine is progressing
well just 10 km due northwest of KesarManda River deposit along the
same rolling range and extends down towards the Ramu valley and around
where the billion kina Ramu nickel-cobalt mine is being developed.
Bilimoia and Ramu mines are further down from our deposit - the rolling-mountains
of the Bismarck Range and the mighty Ramu River starts up here where
we are and yet our prospect is still waiting while others nearby or
further down are being mined. We could be sitting on a major lobe
and any interested partner will have to come and negotiate with us
to extract this major deposit”.
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