A landowner group at the site of Papua New Guinea's Porgera mine has dismissed claims by the miner that it is not representative.
Photo: Supplied
The Justice Foundation for Porgera last week launched a huge $US13.28 billion dollar suit against the PNG government over the failure of the miner, Barrick Nuigini, to meet the conditions laid out in the mining agreement.
The company has responded, saying it has provided hundred of millions of kina to the people of Porgera over the 29 years of the lease.
The foundation does not speak for the majority of landowners who support the continued operatiion of the mine, the company said.
But a lawyer for the foundation, Andrew Kostopolous, said that was wrong.
"I have met all the chiefs or the landowner agents," Mr Kostopolous confirmed.
"We have had them verified, we have had them sign off and these are the people that are landowners," he said.
"We have 18 out of the 24 and they represent their particular area in the Special Mining Lease that has been granted to Barrick."