Marengo Mining has appointed Sam Akoitai to the board of its Papua New Guinea operating subsidiary, Marengo Mining (PNG) Limited, the holding company for its Yandera Copper-Molybdenum Project.

Mr Akoitai was a member of the national parliament of PNG from 1997 until mid 2007, serving firstly as Minister for Bougainville Affairs (1997-2000) and as Minister for Mining from 2002 until the recent national elections. He implemented the establishment of PNG's Mineral Resources Authority, the statutory authority which now regulates the mining industry.

Marengos managing director Les Emery says: 'We are very pleased to welcome Mr Akoitai and see this as yet another building block in our strategy to maximize PNG involvement in the future development of the Yandera Project.

'Given Mr Akoitai's exposure to the PNG mining industry, during his parliamentary career and through his employment with Bougainville Copper, he will contribute greatly to the project.'

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