PNG Unitech’s Appropriate Technology and Community Development Institution will now be able to procure a new water boring machine, thanks to the Kumul Minerals Holding Limited for its timely assistance.

The Kumul Minerals Holding Limited (KMHL) presented a cheque of K248, 500 to the Appropriate Technology and Community Development Institution (ATCDI) early this week at Unitech’s Taraka Campus in Lae.

The cheque was presented on behalf of the KMHL Board and Management by board member and Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Kaul Gena to the ATCDI management and Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Patrick Michael.
The cheque is a contribution towards ATCDI to address its immediate need to procure water boring machine and additional equipment needed for its community outreach projects.
Dr Michael thanked the KMHL for approving and providing the much-needed fund as per the request by the University through ATCDI.
KMHL recognizes the University of Technology as one of the institutions in the country that has served the communities in PNG through institutions like ATCDI and not just as an Institution for higher education.

The state-owned company, KMHL under the government-approved Community and Social Obligation Charter is responsible to fund projects that have the potential to impact and improve lives of people in PNG.

The funding is from the Church and Social Services Funding Policy Initiative of the Marape-Rosso Government. It’s a funding initiative featuring 10% of every dividend received from the mineral harvests in the country primarily focusing on church infrastructure and development works.

Strictly as a beneficiary and implementing agency of the Policy; ATCDI is required to: 

(a) Be transparent and accountable in the use and handling of the funds; 

(b) Fully acquit and furnish too KMHL quarterly reports on the usage and achievements of the funds or spending. 

There were also talks for ATCDI to work with KMHL to address basic needs of clean water supply for mining impacted communities. That would be an activity that ATCDI needs to work with KMHL through a partnership by way of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to effectively implement such initiatives on a later date.