BULOLO DDA GIVES STATE 31 DAYS TO REVIEW REVISED HIDDEN VALLEY CDA

CAPTION: Hon. Sam Basil Jnr, Member for Bulolo District, Vice Minister for Mining and Sports and Leader of the United Labour Party.

THE Bulolo District Development Authority (DDA) has given the State and the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) 31 days to review the revised Community Development Agreement (CDA) for the Hidden Valley Mine.

Bulolo MP and DDA Chairman, Hon. Sam Basil Jr, said the revised CDA was signed by only some parties on 11th August 2026, without the inclusion of the Bulolo DDA as a signatory.

Despite Bulolo District not a signatory to the original CDA, in this revised CDA, the MP called on MRA and the National Government to include them in.

Under the previous arrangement, the Bulolo DDA received 18% of benefits from the Morobe Provincial Government component, while Watut LLG received 5%, Bulolo Urban LLG 4%, Mumeng LLG 3%, and Buang LLG 1%.

Mr. Basil Jr said the revised CDA has reduced each LLG’s share to 1% and removed the Bulolo DDA entirely. As a result, Watut LLG, Bulolo Urban LLG, Mumeng LLG, and Wau Urban LLG walked out and refused to sign the agreement.

The Chairman said the DDA was not consulted prior to the signing of the revised CDA, which he said was signed by only two parties – the Nakui Landowners and the Mining Minister.

THE DEMANDS OF THE BULOLO DDA:

1. We want DDA to be included in its previous CDA agreement of 18% from the MPG and also we want to be signatories in this current CDA agreement.
2. Revised CDA was signed by only TWO PARTIES which included the Nakui LOs and the Mining Minister himself.
3. We want previous agreement of LLG percentages to be brought back into the new CDA agreement. Watut 5%, Bulolo 4%, Mumeng 2% and Buang 1% or increase the percentages.
4. Finaly we want the Tax Credit Scheme funds promised by the Hidden Valley agreement for Wau Bulolo roads, Bridges, Schools, Health, Rural Electricity etc… to be made clear to us on why we haven’t been seeing its implementation for the last 20plus years of this so called Hidden Valley mine since its operation.

“We have given the State and MRA 31 days, starting from 11th August. If we do not receive a favorable response to include Bulolo DDA as a signatory and address these demands, we will pursue this matter in court,” Mr. Basil Jr said.

Mr. Basil Jr called on the State and MRA to uphold proper consultation processes and ensure all key stakeholders are included in decisions affecting the people of Bulolo.