Update on Harmony Gold Mining Co’s Wafi-Golpu Project
In December 2020, following a rigorous environmental impact assessment, the Papua New Guinea Conservation and Environment Protection Authority approved, and the Director of Environment issued the Environment Permit for the Wafi-Golpu Project.
The Environment Permit is required under the Papua New Guinea Environment Act and is a prerequisite for the grant of a Special Mining Lease under the Mining Act 1992.
Subsequently, the Governor of Morobe province and the Morobe Provincial Government have commenced legal proceedings in the National Court in Papua New Guinea seeking judicial review of the decision to issue the Environmental Permit. The participants in the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture
(WGJV) are not defendants to the proceedings.
The National Court is yet to hear and determine this judicial review application. At this stage, project and permitting activities can still progress. Harmony, together with its WGJV partner, Newcrest Mining Limited, looks forward to re-engaging with the State of Papua New Guinea and progressing discussions on the Special Mining Lease for the Wafi-Golpu Project.
The Papua New Guinea government has indicated that Wafi-Golpu is a project of national importance with the permitting thereof a priority.
