Wafi-Golpu mine project

Prime Minister James Marape said this during a press conference recently in Port Moresby, where he officially extended a warm welcome to Newmont Corporation into Papua New Guinea.

Newmont Corporation has assumed control over all Newcrest operations in Papua New Guinea including the Wafi-Golpu project.

“We're now at the stage where the principle of what constitutes the Mine Development Contract (MDC) and Special Mining Lease (SML) is waiting to be agreed upon.

Executive project director of the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture, Bryan Bailie, said this during the PNG Chamber of Mining and Petroleum Conference in Sydney early this month.

According to Business Advantage PNG, Bailie says the project could be ‘multi-generational’ and has the potential to be a ‘long duration sustainable mining operation’ that could last ‘28 to 35 years or more’.

If developed, the mine will be the largest underground mine in PNG and the first green field mine development since the Hidden Valley mine commenced in 2009.