A PPP agricultural venture mooted for Hela Province, first rice harvest from Morobe farm, and Ramu NiCo leading the industry in red laterite development. Your weekly digest of the latest news.

A public-private-partnership with the goal of developing a large-scale commercial agricultural venture in the Hela Province was announced this week by the joint venture parties. The agricultural project partners include the PNG LNG project, agribusiness firm Innovative Agro Industry, MRDC, Hela Provincial Government and Tari-Pori, Koroba-Kopiago and Komo Magarima local level governments. The proposed venture, led by Innovative Agro Industry, will train and equip small-holder farmers to first produce stock feed and vegetables in Hela Province and, over time, endeavour to rejuvenate the local coffee industry.

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Trukai Industries and local farmers in Morobe have reportedly produced the first rice harvest from a 275 hectares farm. Chief executive Greg Worthington-Eyre, during the launching of Hamamas Rice in Port Moresby, said: ‘The Hamamas Rice was grown and harvested in Umi, milled and packaged at Trukai Industries in Lae, Morobe by the people of Papua New Guinea, (is) for the people of Papua New Guinea.’

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With its monthly production maintained well above 3000 tonnes and production capacity above 106 per cent, Ramu NiCo is currently leading the industry of red laterite development and hydro-metallurgy worldwide. The Ramu NiCo Project in Madang Province is strategically part of the growing economic relationship between China and PNG.

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The PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum continues to encourage government to undertake an independent review of the proposed amendments to the Mining Act 1992. The chamber maintained that this was to ensure full understanding of the economic implications of the revised Act on the economy of the country.

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Lakes Oil has made an off-market takeover for Otway Basin and Papua New Guinea player Rawson Oil and Gas, which has been unanimously recommended by the target’s board.

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The need for more small-scale mining training centres has been highlighted during the recent alluvial mining convention and tradeshow held in Lae. Alluvial mining schools established in all four regions of PNG will cater for small-scale miners and developers in the industry who are not aware of the requirements.

The Pacific Islands Forum Officials Committee meetings were held in Apia earlier this month with an agenda that covered regional priorities including security, fisheries, climate change, resilient and sustainable development, trade, and ocean management. The 49^th Pacific Islands Forum will be in Nauru this year from September 3 to 6.

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Kumul Petroleum Holdings has announced the signing of a six-year exclusive agreement with Site Group International, Singapore (Site Group) to manage and operate the Kumul Petroleum Academy (KPA), a subsidiary of Kumul Petroleum, outside Port Moresby.

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Prime Minister Peter O’Neill

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the APEC Coordination Authority has funds allocated for the three Senior Officials Meetings leading up to the summit in November. He was responding to claims by some companies that they had not been paid for the services they provided to the authority in February. The next scheduled APEC event is the Mining Week and Mining Ministerial Meeting from August 23 to 27.

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A new coffee storage shed at Simbai Station has brought a new breath of air for thousands of coffee growers in Middle Ramu District, particularly Simbai and Kovon LLG. The permanent storage facility has a 2000-bag (50kg) capacity and is accessible by small aircrafts only.

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Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu has called on the Government to allow his office to increase the number of lawyers in its corporate structure. Mamu told The National that some of the branches had only one, two or three lawyers. He said the maximum number needed per branch should be four.

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New electorates are expected to be added when the Papua New Guinea general election is held in 2022, according to William Samb, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Bougainville Affairs and Constitutional Matters.

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Chuave District in Simbu Province is set to prep up its business case to attract investors to develop its lime deposit to a fully functional quarry. Member for Chuave and Minister for Commerce and Trade Wera Mori reportedly said the development of the resource would be fast-tracked to capture markets in the form of up-and-coming major mine projects set for development.

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Photograph of the week

Ruth Undi has lent her private aircraft to transport fruit and vegetables grown by women in the Highlands to sell in Port Moresby. Women representatives Clare Dick and Erica Andoia (pictured) thanked Undi for supporting the women. Photo: James Gumono, via The National