Miner Miner Edition 20.indd - Morobe Mining Joint Venture

Employees cast their votes
Local eligible HVJV employees including contractors joined
the rest of Bulolo district, Morobe and PNG when they took
to the polls in June 2012.
For the Bulolo locals rostered to work at the remote Hidden
Valley site during the polling period, all was not lost to register
their votes for their next Parliamentary Leaders.
With strong support from the HVJV Management team,
a total of 227 employees were able to peacefully cast their
votes over a period of two days, starting Saturday June 30 and
ending Sunday July 1 ensuring they did not miss out during the
polling period in the Bulolo district.
On Saturday, fi ve polling offi cials from the PNG
Electoral Commission assisted by their polling scrutineers
covered employees from the Hidden Valley administration
departments, National Catering Services, UMW Niugini Ltd,
Supply and Logistics, and Hidden Valley Contractors.
On Sunday the exercise continued with employees from
the Mine Operations, Mill and Processing, Maintenance, Fixed/
Mobile maintenance and other line departments voting. Even
the night shift workers were catered for.
The poll offi cials were impressed with the voting
atmosphere and the general conduct of voters. They expressed
their appreciation to the HV Management team and other line
departments for providing logistical support to help facilitate
the process on site for the employees.
On completion of the exercise, HV HR Superintendent,
67 year old woman completes skills training
“
Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or
eighty,” goes the popular saying.
For sixty-seven year old Kaya Kagowe, her thirst for
knowledge drove her successfully to complete a two-week
long Small Scale Mining Training in Winima recently.
Mrs Kagowe was one of fi ve female participants who
attended the training facilitated by the Mineral Resources
Authority (MRA) and sponsored by Hidden Valley Joint Venture
(HVJV) with funding of more than K27,000.
The outspoken grandmother urged youths and parents to
make it their business to practice what they have learnt from
the Level 1 training.
Mr Al Comparativoof MRA said they would like to ensure
that skills and knowledge are imparted on to small-scale
miners with its improved training facilities in Wau.
He thanked HVJV, one of three joint ventures that make up
Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) for funding the training.
MMJV’s Community and Regional Infrastructure
Superintendent, Robert Naris says the company is committed
to support such programs under its capacity building program.
Mr Naris said MMJV would also like to continue to work
in partnership with the government at all levels to achieve
its aspirations to improve the lives of the people in village
communities.
The training at Winima was attended by 27 small scale
miners from the two landowner villages of Winima and
Kwembu.
The Level 1 training covers simple mining methods;
Level 2 provides knowledge and skills on the use of simple
mechanized equipment like water pumps, high bankers and
10
MAKING THEIR MARK: HVJV employees along with
contractors line up to cast their votes on site.
Bebea Konie found time to thank the polling offi cials and
scrutineers for coming out of their recognised polling areas
and providing local employees rostered at site the chance
to vote. Over 50% of the total employees at Hidden Valley
including contractors come from the Bulolo district.
Acting HV General Manager at the time, Johan Botha, also
thanked all employees that took part and for supporting the
conduct of polling at HV which made it a success.
READY TO MINE: The small scale miners with their
certifi cates.
suction dredges while Levels 3 and 4 are for miners with
Alluvial Mining Leases from MRA. These levels off er training on
mechanized operation using equipment and machinery with
higher capacity for increased production.
These trainings are conducted in a holistic approach to
ensure the mining operation is managed by best business
practices for sustainable income generation for the miner after
operation closes. Environment rehabilitation is also part of this
training.
MRA has plans to facilitate similar trainings in other parts
of Wau and Bulolo, and in the Lower, Middle, Upper Watut and
Wafi areas in the Huon District.