Company announcements Home » Investors » News » Company announcements » Hidden Valley Joint Venture welcomes reaffirmation of constructive dialogue 2010 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Hidden Valley Joint Venture welcomes reaffirmation of constructive dialogueDecember 17, 2010Please find attached a release from Hidden Valley Joint Venture welcoming a statement by the Member for Bulolo reaffirming the constructive dialogue process agreed on 6 December 2010 regarding landowner community concerns about sediment in the Watut River. Hidden Valley Joint Venture is a 50:50 Joint Venture between Papua New Guinea subsidiaries of Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited and Newcrest Mining Limited. 16 December 2010 Hidden Valley Joint Venture welcomes reaffirmation of constructive dialogue process The Hidden Valley Joint Venture welcomes the Member for Bulolo’s announcement today reaffirming the constructive dialogue process jointly agreed and announced on 6 December 2010. The Member today withdrew a writ lodged with the Lae register of the National Court of Papua New Guinea for alleged nuisance relating to Hidden Valley mine related sediment. The writ had been lodged but not served on the Joint Venturers. The joint agreement, see attached, includes open sharing of information and the establishment of an expert technical advisory group to provide independent review of sediment related issues and related community concerns. Hidden Valley Mine has a demonstrated track record of working with communities. A range of effective environmental and community programs are in place and ongoing. These include voluntary payments made to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain. The Joint Venture has provided written assurance to the Member for Bulolo and his advisers that participating in the compensation process does not in any way infringe on the rights of individuals to claim further compensation beyond that which has already been paid. These compensation payments are nearing completion. Importantly, at Hidden Valley Mine, all tailings from the processing of ore are stored permanently in an engineered Tailings Storage Facility. No tailings are discharged from our site. Hidden Valley Joint Venture places a high value on responsible environmental stewardship, and on the relationship with our communities, and our 2000- strong workforce, most of whom are local people. The Joint Venture remains committed to working with directly communities in a constructive and expeditious manner. Media inquiries: David WissinkPh: (675) 472 1703 ext 243Mobile: (675) 7100 2406Fax: (675) 472 1705Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com Joint Media Release 6 December 2010 Expert technical advisory panel to review the Watut River System Following representations to the Hidden Valley Joint Venture by the Member of Parliament for Bulolo Mr Sam Basil who raised landowner community concerns, an expert technical advisory panel will review sediment and pollution issues affecting the Watut River. The Panel will complement the existing regulatory processes and scrutiny of mining operations conducted by the PNG Government. It will likely include international specialists with best practice experience relevant to the PNG natural environment In recent discussions with Mr Basil it was agreed that terms of reference and membership of the expert technical advisory panel would be determined with a view to finalising details at a meeting in January. Regulators will be key participants in this meeting and in ongoing discussions. It is envisaged the expert technical advisory panel will be briefed on both historic and current studies and will visit the mine site. The Joint Venture has provided Mr Basil with a briefing on the environmental management and monitoring of sediment run-off from the mine along with background information and a number of studies. The Joint Venturers said that the expert technical advisory panel would be a vehicle for the constructive resolution of sediment related issues in a transparent and cooperative forum. The meeting also discussed the establishment of multi stakeholder panels to consider the broader future development of Morobe Province. Background The Hidden Valley Mine is operated by the Hidden Valley Mine Joint Venture (HVJV) a 50:50 Joint venture between Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest Mining of Australia. The Hidden Valley Mine is located near Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province. It was officially opened in September 2010. The Hidden Valley Mine has a workforce of more than 2,000 people. 95 per cent are PNG Nationals and 50 per cent come from the local communities. It is important to note that the Hidden Valley Mine has an engineered tailings storage facility and no mine processing residue, or tailings, is discharged into the river. The mine related sediment in the river that has caused community concern was run-off from mine overburden and construction activities. The mine transitioned from construction to operation in October this year. Mine sediment run-off is now significantly lower due to mitigation measures. These measures included ceasing of side casting of waste rock and overburden in September 2009, ongoing revegetation of exposed slopes and erosion control, and the storage of waste rock in engineered waste rock facilities. Hidden Valley Mine has a demonstrated record of working with local communities. The Hidden Valley Joint Venture has been making voluntary compensation payments to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from the mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain. A sustainable development program is bringing education support, agricultural skills, health programs and community facilities such as sanitation and water supplies, school classrooms, community halls and aid posts. These programs were developed in partnership with the local and provincial government and are aligned with their development programs. Media inquiries contact: Hidden Valley Joint Venture David WissinkPh: (675) 472 1703 ext 243Mobile: (675) 7100 2406Fax: (675) 472 1705Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com Member of Parliament for Bulolo Hon. Sam Basil, MPMember of Parliament for BuloloEmail: vipersco@yahoo.com.auFacebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698071613
