莫爾茲比港，巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞（巴新），2020年10月17日周六 巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞波格拉金礦的多數(shù)股東和運營商巴理克（新幾內(nèi)亞）有限公司（BNL），就BNL 和巴新政府關(guān)于就盡快重啟波格拉礦山達成雙方可接受之方案的談判狀態(tài)，公告進展并作進一步澄清。
如10月15日聯(lián)合新聞聲明提到的，詹姆士馬拉佩總理和巴理克CEO 馬克布里索托就波格拉事宜在莫爾茲比港進行了富有成效的討論。如總理所述，“我們已經(jīng)原則上達成了一致，巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞將在新的安排下占有多數(shù)股權(quán)，BNL 將保留運營權(quán)，將會實現(xiàn)合理的經(jīng)濟利益分成。這是一個非常重要的進步，我期待著關(guān)于指導(dǎo)礦山未來運營的經(jīng)濟原則的進一步討論結(jié)果”。
本次會談是雙方之間首次就細節(jié)進行談判，具有里程碑的意義，但仍需要就一些重大事項達成一致并達成具有約束力的文件。這也是，正如聯(lián)合新聞聲明中所說的，巴理克高級執(zhí)行團隊繼續(xù)留在莫爾茲比港與國家談判組（SNT）就商務(wù)細節(jié)繼續(xù)談判的原因。已編制了一份雙方達成的原則清單，以指導(dǎo)談判向前推進，這與一些社交媒體上披露的內(nèi)容，在一些關(guān)鍵事項上有所不同。
對BNL 來說，至關(guān)重要的事項包括：
■ 關(guān)于公平的經(jīng)濟利益分成（用以抵消巴新在新安排下所占的多數(shù)股權(quán)份額）的精確界定。BNL的立場是，所有的經(jīng)濟杠桿，包括稅收，都必須考慮進去，以實現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟利益的公平合理分配，這就是伙伴關(guān)系的界定。
■ BNL 認為，BNL 的特別采礦權(quán)（SML-1）是最合適的礦權(quán)，因為SML-1 已經(jīng)擁有14個礦山運營必需的附屬權(quán)證、礦業(yè)開發(fā)合同（MDC）以及法律要求的礦山運營必需的所有其他證照、執(zhí)照和協(xié)議。例如，BNL 擁有已經(jīng)獲得批準的環(huán)境許可，有效期至2038年，這是安全和負責任采礦作業(yè)的最重要文件之一。相反，頒發(fā)給庫姆礦業(yè)控股有限公司（KMHL）的SML-11，沒有任何附屬權(quán)證、MDC、許可、執(zhí)照和協(xié)議，這些都需要花好幾年才能獲得。此外，BNL 和土地主也在巴新法院就該SML-11 的合法性提起了訴訟。
■ 雙方同意，任何歷史遺留問題將僅限于違反法律、合同或許可的行為，爭議將根據(jù)歷史協(xié)議解決。
我們很高興地看到最終開始了實質(zhì)性談判。我們致力于與總理和國家談判組（SNT）真誠合作，締結(jié)一項有約束力的框架協(xié)議，解決所有重大未決問題。政府和BNL將以該框架協(xié)議為基礎(chǔ)，達成最終協(xié)議，并啟動恢復(fù)礦山運營必需的步驟。
附：
巴新國家與巴理克就重啟波格拉金礦進行積極討論的聯(lián)合新聞聲明
詹姆士馬拉佩總理與恩加省長Peter Ipatas 今天在莫爾茲比港與巴理克黃金CEO 馬克布里斯托會面，討論重啟波格拉金礦的條款。
今天晚些時候，馬拉佩總理在莫爾斯比港發(fā)言時表示，他對所進行的討論感到非常高興。
總理說：“我今天很高興能夠與巴理克CEO 布里斯托先生及其團隊會見，討論重啟波格拉金礦的方法。”
總理說：“我們已經(jīng)原則上達成了一致，巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞將在新的安排下占有多數(shù)股權(quán)（a major share of equity），BNL 將保留運營權(quán)，將會實現(xiàn)合理的經(jīng)濟利益分成。這是一個非常重要的進步，我期待著關(guān)于指導(dǎo)礦山未來運營的經(jīng)濟原則的進一步討論結(jié)果”。
巴理克CEO 馬克布里斯托（今晚將離開巴新前往非洲），指出他將留下一個高級別的團隊推進談判。
布里斯托先生說，“我確信我的團隊將會與由Issac Lupari大使擔任主任的巴新國家談判組一起努力，完成全部商務(wù)細節(jié)?！?nbsp;
馬拉佩總理和布里斯托先生約定，談判完成后，他們將在接下來幾周內(nèi)再次會談。
馬拉佩總理說：“我完全相信，我們將能夠促成一項歷史性的協(xié)議，這將提供一個持久的遺產(chǎn)和長久的伙伴關(guān)系，將使我們的國家在未來許多年受益?！?nbsp;
詹姆士馬拉佩 馬克布里斯托
總理 巴理克黃金公司總裁兼CEO
PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG) – SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER, 2020: Barrick (Niugini) Limited (“BNL”), the majority owner and operator of the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, offers the following update and clarification on the status of negotiations between BNL and the PNG Government to reach agreement on a mutually acceptable solution that would enable the reopening of Porgera mine at the earliest opportunity.
As noted in their Joint Media Statement of 15 October, Prime Minister James Marape and Barrick CEO Mark Bristow held fruitful discussions in Port Moresby that progressed the Porgera issue. As the Prime Minister noted, “We have agreed in principle that Papua New Guinea will take a major share of equity under the new arrangements and BNL will retain operatorship and there will be a fair sharing of the economic benefits. This is a very significant step forward and I look forward to hearing of the outcomes of further discussions on the economic principles to guide future mining operations.”
While the discussions represented a milestone as the first detailed negotiations between the two sides, significant issues remain to be agreed and finalized in a binding document. This is why, as stated in the Joint Media Statement, a team of Barrick senior executives have stayed in Port Moresby to work with the State Negotiation Team (SNT) “in finalising full commercial details”. A list of agreed principles, which differ in key respects from those disclosed by some on social media, was compiled to guide the negotiations going forward.
Matters of critical importance to BNL include:
■ The precise definition of the fair sharing of economic benefits to offset PNG taking a major share of equity under the new arrangements. BNL’s position is that all economic levers, including taxes, must be open to consideration to achieve a fair and equitable split of economic benefits, which is the definition of a partnership.
■ BNL maintains that the BNL Special Mining Lease 1 (SML 1) is the appropriate tenement because SML 1 already possesses the 14 associated tenements required for the mine to operate, a Mining Development Contract (MDC) and all of the other permits, licenses and agreements that are legally required to operate the mine. For instance, SML 1 has an approved Environmental Permit, one of the most important documents for safe and responsible mining, that is valid until 2038. By contrast, SML 11, purportedly granted to Kumul Mineral Holdings Limited (KMHL), possesses none of these associated tenements, MDC, permits, licences or agreements, which can take years to obtain, and, in addition, is having its legitimacy challenged in the PNG courts by both BNL and landowners.
■ The two sides agreed that any legacy issues would be limited to transgressions against law, contract or permit and that disputes would be resolved under historical agreements.
We are pleased that substantive negotiations have finally begun, and we are committed to working in good faith with the Prime Minister and the SNT to conclude a binding Framework Agreement that will resolve all major outstanding issues. With such an agreement in hand, the Government and BNL would be able to complete definitive agreements and start the prerequisite steps that would allow the process of resuming operations to begin.
Joint Media Statement
Positive Discussion between State and Barrick towards re-opening of Porgera Gold Mine
Prime Minister James Marape, together with Enga Provincial Governor Sir Peter Ipatas, met with Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow today in Port Moresby to discuss the terms of the re-opening of the Porgera Gold Mine.
Speaking in Port Moresby late today, Prime Minister Marape indicated that he was very happy with the discussions that had taken place.
“I was very pleased to be able to meet with Barrick CEO Mr Bristow and his team today to discuss a way forward in reopening the Porgera Gold Mine”, the Prime Minister said.
Discussions focused on mutually acceptable arrangements for a new Porgera partnership to reopen and operate the mine going into the future.
“We have agreed in principle that Papua New Guinea will take a major share of equity under the new arrangements and BNL will retain operatorship and there will be a fair sharing of the economic benefits. This is a very significant step forward and I look forward to hearing of the outcomes of further discussions on the economic principles to guide future mining operations”, the Prime Minister said.
Barrick CEO Mark Bristow, who departs PNG for Africa this evening noted that he is leaving behind a high-level team to progress negotiations.
“I am certain that my team will be able to work with the PNG State Negotiation Team, led by SNT Chairman Ambassador Isaac Lupari, in finalising full commercial details”, Mr Bristow said.
Prime Minister Marape and Mr Bristow have agreed to meet again in the coming weeks once negotiations conclude.
“I have full confidence that we will be able to broker an historic agreement that will provide a lasting legacy and enduring partnership that will benefit our nation for many years to come”, Prime Minister Marape said.
Hon. James Marape, MP Mark Bristow
Prime Minister President and CEO
Barrick Gold Corporation