Porgera Joint Venture (PJV)

Enga PHA gets COVID test kits

Only recently the joint venture donated to the Enga Provincial Health Authority (EPHA) two thousand COVID-19 test kits, assist in its COVID-19 virus detection efforts.

The National Pandemic Controller recently announced Enga as one of three provinces being closely monitored with increased COVID-19 virus detection rates.

The 1000 antigen and 1000 antibody rapid diagnostic kits were received on behalf of the EPHA by Porgera Urban Clinic Disease Control Manager Masi Mangan at the Porgera mine site.

Porgera redundancy for 2,700 workers

PJV has accorded its employees the opportunity to return to the mine site one last time to do proper clearance of their personal effects from the camps and to have their redundancy documents processed.

As of Wednesday, 1st July, the PJV HR group began the redundancy exercise processing both fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) employees and local mine award employees.

Given the large workforce number, the redundancy exercise will take the company until the end of July.

Standard for auto electrical trade testing set

The trade testing conducted from 16-18 March was overseen by the National Apprenticeship and Trade Testing Board (NATTB), the statutory body set up to certify trade personnel in the country.

Maintenance training technical specialist, Craig Reaks, said previously there were no set assessment instruments in place in the country to assess automotive electrical level 3.

PJV reports ‘strongest financial results’

The joint venture partners include landowners and the Enga Provincial Government, as well as significant economic benefits to Papua New Guinea as a whole. 

“Those benefits include an advanced payment this week of an additional K59 million in corporate income tax paid by Barrick Niugini Limited, for a total of over K215 million for 2019,” said PJV.

PJV assists Sanapte

PJV delivered building materials and tools for Oksapmin High School, the Sisimin Aid Post and the Sanapte Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The materials were brought on board a twin otter aircraft to the Oksapmin Government Station.

The school needed to construct a new toilet; the Aid Post needed to build a house for its Aid Post Orderly, and the SDA Church needed church building.

Oksapmin High School head teacher, Minti Tilsil said she sent letters and quotes to companies, and only PJV responded positively.

Porgera businesses get tax education

This follows a five-day tax awareness workshop facilitated by the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) – Highlands Regional Tax Centre.

The workshop, held at Suyan in Porgera, from 23-27 September, was through an initiative of the Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in partnership with the Economic Programs unit of PJV’s Community Development section.

Manager IRC Tax Centre for Mt Hagen, Mark Kolow, highlighted that Porgera businesses have very low compliance levels when it comes to tax obligations.

PJV team proud of performance

Ranking second overall behind Ok Tedi, the team from Ipili valley earned the second spot due to its level of endurance and motivation, according to Team Coordinator Paul Poumaka.

He said the team’s performance was gritty and nurtured by a ‘don’t give up attitude’, and although being physically challenged by Port Moresby’s scorching heat, their positive attitude kept them going to earn the second spot.

“Yes, our ER team did very well at this year’s challenge but we know that we couldn’t have achieved the result if we did not have PJV management backing,” Poumaka stated.

Basic supplies for riverine communities

PJV’s Community Relations and Engagement (CRE) section under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department had the supplies airlifted to Paka, Aluni, Wanekipa and Yokona communities in the Lake-Kopiago District of Hela Province, and Gaua community in the West Sepik Province.

These communities are located along the borders of West Sepik, Hela and Enga provinces, along the Lagaip and Strickland river system.

The supplies donated included library books, chairs, uniforms, desks and tables and wheelbarrows.

New homes for Porgera LOs

Their houses, constructed under the gold mine’s relocation program for landowners impacted by mining activities, are located at Paiam in Porgera, Aiyak and Kasap in Laiagam, and at Sapos village within Wapenamanda’s Tsak valley.

Under PJV’s Local Procurement Policy, the homes were built by local contractors Heli Limi Limited (Paiam), Kalane Construction and Engineering (Aiyak and Kasap) and Kyakangen (Sapos).

PJV’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Senior Manager Timothy Andambo was on hand to present the keys to the home owners.

Maintenance work on Porgera bridge

This week the Porgera miner carried out maintenance work on the Aipulungu Bridge – one of the two bridges that connect Paiam Township to Porgera Station and the Porgera Gold Mine.

The PJV roadworks team on February 23rd removed the damaged bridge deck planks on the Bailey Double Single Reinforced – 7 Bay bridge, removed damaged stringers, and placed new stringers followed by the new deck planks before reopening the bridge to motorists.

Senior Engineer Josiah Kunai said the maintenance work was carried out after an inspection of the bridge by the PJV team.