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GRM Ltd announces a positive feasibility study for the Gold Ridge Mine Project

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives present the Project Feasibility Study and supporting documents to the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.

THE Feasibility Study developed by Golder Associates, demonstrates that Gold Ridge Project is economically viable and technically feasible.

Yesterday, Gold Ridge Mine Executives met with Honorable Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Bradley Tovosia to deliver the much anticipated Feasibility Study to the Solomon Islands Government.

With a capital cost (including the start-up cost) of around AUD 140 million, a 13-year life of mine (LOM), and with the assumption of a long-term gold price of USD 1,300 per ounce, the financial model demonstrates that the project will be cash flow positive in its fourth year of operation.

Given the Gold Ridge ores are mostly fresh ore, as opposed to oxide ore, the flotation process is recommended initially to produce gold concentrate while refinery onsite options are being further assessed.

The benefit of the flotation method to produce gold concentrate is first that no cyanide will be used in the production process which means that the environmental impact of the project is significantly reduced.

Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives discuss the economic, environmental and social benefits for landowners, Solomon Islands Government and investors of the Gold Ridge Mine Project Feasibility Study with the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.

Secondly, the method means that GRML can recommission the mine and reach full production two years quicker which lets the project reach a cashflow positive position for the benefit of government, landowners and investors much sooner.

The redesigned and refurbished process plant will have a processing capacity of 2.5 million ton per annum. The processing design builds on the metallurgical test work carried out by Xiamen Zijin Technology of Mining and Metallurgy Ltd. (Zijin) in late 2017 and the process plant refurbishment and redesign work undertaken by China Nerin Engineering Co. Ltd in 2018.

An independent study by the Griffith University in Australia shows that the total macroeconomic impact of reopening the Gold Ridge Mine and injecting new capital is expected to generate significant economic benefits for the Solomon Islands economy.

It is estimated that the initial investment will contribute around 59 percent of the total forecast foreign direct investment for 2020. Based on previous gold mining experience in the Solomon Islands, the project is estimated to directly contribute around 9.3 percent of the GDP of the Solomon Islands in 2020, and about 6 percent of GDP annually over the life of the mine. Gold exports are expected to make around a 17 percent contribution to total exports.

Gold Ridge Mine Board members and executives present the Project Feasibility Study and supporting documents to the Hon. Minister Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the A/Director of Mines, Mr Joseph Ishmael.

The project production phase will initially employ approximately 250 to 300 direct jobs with 70 percent of the unskilled and semi-skilled roles forecast to be employed from the local catchment and the Solomon Islands.

The project’s indirect employment impact through the demand for workers and services by the mine and across the supply chain is the creation of approximately 6,723 job opportunities.

The Feasibility Study identified that there is also significant potential to extend the life of the operation through future exploration.

“This project represents a significant nation-building opportunity for the people of Solomon Islands with significant economic and social benefits of the project for the landowners and communities of Gold Ridge if carefully managed.” said Mr Naezon, a Director of Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) who represents the interests of the Gold Ridge Mine landowner catchment who have a ten percent equity share in the mine.

“We have studied the lessons from the past and we know the factors needed to ensure the mine’s success” said Mr Allen Wang, Director-Elect and GRML’s Assistant Chief Executive Officer.

“The project requires an uncompromising focus on gold recovery and cost management; responsible tailings and environmental management; and the embedding of the landowners and communities of Gold Ridge as true equity and development partners” said Mr Wang.

For landowners to realise the benefits of the mine however, requires them to take their respective project responsibilities. A key responsibility of landowners and Chiefs at this stage is the removal of pit miners who are illegally panning for gold in the pits.

Landowners must also show commitment and be empowered to save and invest for the long-term and to ensure that equitable and inclusive royalty and dividend distribution mechanisms are put in place to share in the wealth generated from the mine.

“We will play our part, to turn Gold Ridge Mine into a profitable long-term operation, for the benefit of landowners, the Solomon Islands and investors, and we need landowners to underpin and reinforce this opportunity and for all key stakeholders to support us”, said Mr Richard Gu, Director of GRML and Chairman of AXF Gold Ridge Pty Ltd.

“We call on the Solomon Islands Government and the donor community to rally behind the project, and in particular, to support the landowners, communities, women and youth of Gold Ridge to derive long-term benefits from the mine”, said Mr Gu.

GRML are progressing a number of plans to demonstrate the company’s long-term commitment to the project and landowners. The plans cover environmental, tailings and social performance management, future planned exploration, local employment and workforce localisation, local buying and business development and community and landowner development.

Gold Ridge Mine is a brownfield open pit gold mine located in Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands.

–GRML

Ulawa Ugi constituents thankful for facilities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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LC Lokoiola being escorted before the launching program begins

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE Member of Parliament for Ulawa/Ugi Constituency, Honorable William Marau has been praised for facilitating much needed infrastructure for Ulawa/Ugi.

Through assistance by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID) and through the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF), Marau was able to deliver the projects to his Constituency of Ulawa/Ugi.

Marau has been providing a number of projects for his Constituency with one of them being the delivery of LC Lokoiola that was launched earlier this week. Also a market house and two warehouses in Ulawa and Ugi including the purchase of vehicles for land transport for the two islands.

Speaking on behalf of the people of Ulawa and Ugi, Toswel Tahisau in relation to the market house said, it will provide shelter for them during bad weather.

Tahisau said women will now be able to sell their products in a conducive environment.

He said beneficiaries of these facilities must work together to care and make good use of these facilities.

Tahisau said the people of Ulawa and Ugi are also thankful for the standard warehouse both in Ulawa and Ugi.

“These storage buildings have now served their purpose in which people are benefiting from now,” he said.

Betrina Roraimae of Ulawa Ugi Council of Women says they applaud Hon Marau and the Constituency Management for fulfilling one of their (women) key priority needs which is the market house.

Roraimae said this is a great achievement especially for women and children of the two islands.

Few other projects are still progressing like Hydro power lighting system and the housing schemes. Some will start next early next year.

An offering to a river with Solomon Islands in mind

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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I was pleased to read a report in yesterday’s Island Sun newspaper which foretold that the Solomon Islands Government will, next year, launch another report on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

I will be keen to learn what the government has done, and intends to do further, to address biodiversity decline and pollution at home.

I mention pollution in relation to the protection of the environment because of what I have come to learn of the pollution of the Mataniko River being used as a dumping site for household rubbish and other forms of garbage, including plastics.

What should be a pristine river is now so badly polluted by rubbish, I am reliably told, all forms of life in the river may have died or are continuing to die.

I know that a start was made to raise public awareness of keeping the river free from pollutants such as rubbish but gather despite some good progress with a river clean-up project the Mataniko river still remains relatively polluted from liquid and solid waste from human settlement, residential areas and shops operating and living adjacent to the river.

It is clearly an ongoing challenge to the local authorities and the volunteers to bring about a change in mindset about the disposal of rubbish into the river and they should be congratulated on their efforts to date, but much more needs to be done to eradicate the waste disposal continually occurring.

Tonight, Thursday, 22 November 2018, I will be mindful of what I have written about the pollution in the Mataniko River because of a thoughtful ceremony taking place in Thailand called Loi Krathong.

The ceremonial festival is celebrated annually throughout Thailand on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar.

The festival may have originated from an ancient rural ritual paying respect to the water spirits and these days a way of expressing regret for having in any way polluted or misused the river.

During Loi Krathong, which generally last three days, Thai people go to a river, canal or pond where they float hand-made krathongs, made from a banana tree trunk and banana leaves, held together with pins, and decorated with flowers. They usually make a wish when placing their krathong on the water.

These days, krathongs are more often made of bread so it will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable.

Some krathongs are decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, three incense sticks, and a candle.

As I put my own krathong on the local river this evening I will make a wish for a pristine Mataniko River and for better public awareness of the duty and responsibility to keep it that way for all to enjoy.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

RSIPF concerned about fatal accidents in logging camps

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is concerned about the frequency of accidents happening at logging camps throughout the country and has called on companies to put in place safety measures to minimize fatalities at the camps.

“The latest fatal accident is that of the Malaysian Camp Manager at the MEGA Logging Camp at Fulo in West Dorio in the Malaita Province yesterday (21 November 2018).

The Camp Manager died after the rim on the tyre of the loader machine he was pumping flew out and hit him, killing him instantly,” says Supervising RSIPF Commissioner, Juanita Matanga.

She adds: “It was only a couple of weeks ago that another foreign national died at a logging camp during a road accident in West Rennell.”

“I want to call on all logging companies in the country to institute safety measures at their logging companies and ensure that all their vehicles are in good working order to reduce the chances of accidents,” says Supervising Commissioner Matanga.

“I also urge provincial governments to consider proposing bye-laws to minimize accidents at the logging camps.”

Supervising Commissioner Matanga explains: “Police cannot be at the logging camps all the time so the responsibility rests on the management of the companies to make sure whatever safety measures are adhered to in order to minimize any chances of an accident.”

–RSIPF MEDIA

Customary land recording commences in Isabel

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

ISABEL Province will commence Customary Land Recording Friday this week as a result of combined efforts by the National Government, the Isabel Provincial Government, the Isabel Council of Chiefs and the Pacific Community (SPC) with financial support from the Australian Government.

Stakeholders of Barora Fa, Ghage and Pizuana will congregate at Kia for a Public Hearing to represent claims on customary interests over identified lands and the chain of islands linking the Arnavon Islands at the western end of Isabel Province.

The Public Hearing is fixed to commence following a one month public notice to hear claims over customary interests in the specified areas following a Government declaration to carryout recording of customary land in Isabel.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey, earlier this year declared Isabel Province as a Customary Land Recording Province which has resulted in the appointment of the Isabel Customary Land Recorder.

The Commissioner of Lands, Mr Alan Mcneil is pleased with the progress of work so far. In the current exercise, the Surveyor General will be heavily involved, as they will carry out the mapping of customary boundaries.

The Commissioner of Lands further confirmed that this is a National Government undertaking and has the full support of the Ministry and especially the Customary Land Records Office. This exercise will roll out into the next 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, the Zabana House of Chiefs is optimistic that the exercise will be successful and landholding clans, families and individuals will be able to record their interest in custom over their Customary Land.

This will be an affirmation of rights and interest as to custom over the Customary Land by Land holding entities.

The Public Hearing will be attended by the Isabel Customary Lands Record Office, Isabel Provincial Government’s Culture and Lands Division and Officers from the Public Solicitors Office (LALSU).

A brief program will include awareness on related matters and common issues as to Customary Land to be conducted by officers of the LALSU and the Isabel Customary Land Records Office.

Other regions in Isabel have also indicated willingness to undertake this process as it appears to be an appropriate intervention to Customary Land management issues faced by various land holding entities.

–GCU

White River school Principal lauds Japanese gov’t

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

WHITE River Community High School Principal, Evan Gerea has lauded the Japanese government for selecting his school to participate in the High School Students Summit on “World Tsunami Awareness Day” in Japan this year.

Gerea says his students not only learned about tsunami awareness but have developed a whole new perception of the world.

He voiced it is important that they utilize the knowledge they gained from the summit.

Gerea expressed that this trip is an investment for the country.

He said they are very thankful to the Japanese government for having Solomon Islands, particularly White River School at the summit.

Malaita province pleas for shared resource scheme

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Malaita Provincial Government is calling on the national government to consider improvement of its resource sharing to the provinces.

Provincial Secretary of MPG, Mr Jackson Gege made the statement saying this is the reason provinces are sometimes engaged in unethical actions.

He said all the provinces in the country are very marginalise in terms of resources sharing and focus of the national government.

Gege said national government doesn’t see provincial governments as important political institutions to work along for development and delivery of services in the country.

“A clear example was out of the total budget of the national government in terms of resource sharing, all provinces only receive 1.4 percent of the budget.

“And distributing that 1.4 percent among all the provinces, it doesn’t enough to meet all the services and demands in the provinces.

“Because majority of country’s populations are in the provinces and take care by the province.

“So the people’s immediate needs are closer to the provincial government than the national government,” he said.

Gege said the sad thing was it is difficult to meet their services. With the increased population, the need for services and cost of delivery is also increasing.

He said the support by the national government to provincial governments was fixed and not improving year by year.

He said this is one of provincial governments appeal to national government to consider improving resource sharing, so that provinces can increase their responsibility.

“On the other hand, it will also stop provinces from borrowing.

“Because when provinces are not well supported, some of its actions will not seem right in order to meet its legal obligations,” Gege said.

He made an example saying in a clinic, it is unethical to inject two or three patients with only a syringe, but due to luck of syringes and for the sake of serving the patient’s life, the nurses do something unethical.

“This is a classic example of how provincial governments are functioning. They want to do more current services, but they luck resources.

“Although they’re operating on local revenue, but collecting revenue is not easy as it’s costly on areas like logistic, recruitment and others.

“So it’s best for national government to reconsider these things so that provinces do not engage in unethical actions,” Gege said.

It was only yesterday, the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) spoke of their priority area to the Public Accounts Committee for a shared resource scheme for provinces.

MPGIS is tasked to strategise for this scheme.

Bech de mer buyers must comply with rules down West

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Western Province Premier, David Gina is calling on Beche-de-mer buyers who has an interest to operate in the Province to let the provincial government know of their presence. He said this is for formalities purposes and that a license is issued to them before they carry out their operation.

This ordinance applies to all Beche-de-mer buyers outside and within the province who are operating in a commercial or residential location within the Province, Gina said.

He urges buyers who are yet to meet the process in licensing to do so immediately at the provincial government treasury office.

“I wish to urge all beche de mer buyers in the province to pay license and get on with business.”

“Western provincial Government is well aware that there are buyers out there who are operating under the cover of huge businesses,” Gina said.

He said buyers must not do that.

“We have a small business community and no one can get away with this” said Gina.

He said the central Government recently lifted a moratorium three weeks ago following recommendations from the Department of Fisheries in Honiara.

Gina said according to the latest report from the scientific community, the much sought after marine product is declining.

Gina called on all buyers to meet their legal obligations such as paying for a license before getting on with business under the Western Provincial Government Business Ordinance.

Meanwhile, Western Provincial Government Communication Office confirmed that more than ten beche de mer buyers have fully complied with their requirements.

Five thousand dollars is the fee. This applies to anyone dealing with bech de mer. Beche de mer is listed as an endangered marine species.

The Treasury Section in Gizo confirmed a license for a beche de mer product is specific to a region like Gizo.

Interested buyers must get a standard form to fill-in thus; the buyer must specify the region operations will take place in the province.

Borrowing is an issue in the past, PS Gege

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Provincial Secretary of Malaita Province, Mr Jackson Gege.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

Provincial Secretary of Malaita Province, Mr Jackson Gege.

MALAITA provincial government has refuted a recent media report saying the province is still participating in usurious loans.

Provincial Secretary, Mr Jackson Gege stood out to invalidate the statement saying it’s incorrect and doesn’t reflect the true current situation of the province.

Gege wish to shed light on this matter in response to the Auditor General’s report on borrowing situation of Malaita province.

He explained that “MPG cannot deny the fact of borrowing, but this was an issue in the past and now the province is free from it and it is no longer an issue.”

“To be true here on the side of MPG, we did borrow small amount of funds two to three years ago especially for the salary of provincial workers,”

“So the issue raised is however true, but at the moment all borrowings were settled and the province is debt free of borrowing and no longer on borrowing business,” Gege said.

He went on to say that one thing people should understand is when MART government came in; borrowing is one among the existing issues face.

“They try their best to do away with it, but it was very challenging and hard as they go bit by bit to address it,” Gege said.

He said finally MPG has did and proud to tell Malaitans that “at the moment MPG has no credit at all of its borrowing.

Gege said this is the result of efforts put in by MPG in an effort to address the issues.

In term of other debts, he said MPG has been able to clear their NPF debts and received formal acknowledgement from them thanking MPG for paying off their debts with NPF.

Gege said another big debt for the province was the PAYE where a recorded amount of $7.7m was said to be outstanding since 2007.

He said they are able to pay half of it and have another $3m to repay.

Gege said this is how committed MPG is in pursuing their debts.

He said it is challenging and not really easy to get away from these situations. He said however they are able to do it and progress with their commitment to settle the debts.

Gege said drawing on the contrast, when MART government came into power, they found it hard to even pay the salary of their staff because of the big debts.

He said as the debt issue eases over the years, the province is now ready to move on.

“One surprising thing is the province now employed more officers to work under province and to be paid under the salary of province government.

“Employing these officers it generated an excessive cost for MPG, but surprisingly we never go into debt,” Gege said.

In terms of auditing, he said the province is pursuing positive outcomes of its auditing issues.

PS Gege thanked the MPG especially those behind the effort to ensure Malaita province is free from debts and borrowing.

Increased logging accidents concern police

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE increased reports on logging vehicles costing people’s lives have become a concern for the Police.

Supervising Police Commissioner Juanita Matanga said fatal accidents in logging camps has been of great concern to the police. She said from the past months and weeks police continued to receive reports of fatal accidents.

She said logging companies must be aware of the safety of its employees and the machines used must be of standard.

She reminds loggers that whilst they are doing their activities it is also their responsibility to care for their employees and machines.

Loggers must make sure their machines and vehicles are road worthy and safe for employees. She said a lot of lives had been lost, due to negligence.

She made the comment following a recent report where a Malaysian was report to die after he was hit by a tyre of the loader at one of the Logging camps in Malaita.

She said Police in Auki attended to that report and the deceased was taken to Honiara and ready to be repatriated back to his home country.

Matanga also mentioned that from these reports, the Assistant Commissioner Provincial will be liaising with the Provincial Governments to come up with some by-laws to be applied to all vehicles operating in the Logging camps and in the provinces.

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