Newcrest Lihir

Dubbed ‘The Lihir Way’, the campaign is enabling the 20-year-old business to operate with advanced safety standards and prosperity for the next 30 years.   

In the past two years, Lihir’s performance has increased significantly, from processing 10 million tons of ore per annum (10Mtpa) to just under 13Mtpa with an aspiration to increase to 15Mtpa. 

From Samo village on the Western side of Lihir, New Ireland Province, the mother of three has been working with the company for over 16 years. 

She joined in 2001 as an operator driving haul trucks, excavators and com loaders, and has notched a wealth of experience in the field. In her new role, one of her responsibilities will be to provide support in leading and managing groups of heavy equipment operators within the mine operations.

“PNG is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman or girl, with an estimated 70 per cent of women experiencing rape or assault in their lifetime,” the 2016 World Report stated.  

“While such acts have long been criminalied and domestic violence was specifically proscribed under the 2013 Family Protection Act, few perpetrators are brought to justice.”

A mining company on the island of New Ireland is using cycling to promote the anti-violence message.

This was held as part of the World Health Day observation of the day on April 7.

Acting General Manager, Stephen Perkins, said it is important for miners to know and understand how to manage depression, and also educate their family members at home about the signs of depression and how to deal with it quickly.

“Here in Lihir, we believe that a healthy and happy home contributes to a safe and productive workforce.

The employees, Ngala Papan, Sylvester Yakanadou, Sion Polongou, Mark Mokolevega, Jimmy Leba and Walter Philip were given this prestigious award last month, after completing Certificates 1-4 in Water Industry Operations through TAFE Queensland.

Having achieved this award, the six employees are now able to make a meaningful contribution towards implementing the Newcrest (Lihir) Cholera Management Plan. The Plan caters for the water and waste services for Londolovit town.

He expressed confidence in the performance of Newcrest in his province, by announcing a new era of constructive relations between Newcrest and the people of New Ireland.

Sir Julius made this statement when he officiated at the Lihir Secondary School graduation last week.

The ceremony also coincided with the opening of the school’s 76-bed boys’ dormitory built under the PNG Government’s Tax Credit Scheme (TCS) and valued at K14.67m.