Porgera mine

NEC noted the progress of the activities required to reopen the Porgera Gold Mine and was concerned that the tax matter was prolonged.

While it continues to observe the independence of the internal revenue commission, it availed itself of the opportunity to be advised independently of the issues surrounding the taxation dispute.

Before his visit to Porgera, Mr Bristow expressed deep disappointment at the current conflict in Porgera Valley and elsewhere in Enga Province.

This has led to numerous deaths, assaults on Porgera residents, including women and children, the burning of houses and businesses, and the closure of critical government services such as the Paiam Hospital and Porgera Secondary school.

They will be in Papua New Guinea from 12th-15th of October and Dr Bristow is expected to meet with Prime Minister James Marape and senior PNG Government officials during his visit. 

While the Porgera Mine is presently under care and maintenance, negotiations for the re-commencement of mining at Porgera continues, in line with the terms of the Framework Agreement signed between Barrick and the State in April, 2021.

Parties in April this year sanctioned a “Framework Agreement for the New Porgera Project” which spells out the roadmap to reopen the mine.

Mark Bristow, CEO and President of Barrick Gold, last week explained key elements of “the framework at a public forum at the Piam Oval in Porgera, witnessed by Prime Minister James Marape, landowners and other leaders.

Posting on his Facebook wall, Marape asked all Papua New Guineans to bear with him as the government works through the transitional period of the Enga Province mine.

“Short term pain for long term gain; don’t be crybabies and pessimists,” the PM said.

“In the absence of further detail regarding the proposed transitional arrangements, the company intends to temporarily suspend mining and mineral processing operations at the Porgera Mine, in order to ensure the safety and security of employees and communities,” it said in a statement.

“Critical safety, security and environmental personnel at the mine will remain operational during this period, and mine management are hopeful that full mining operations can resume in the future.”

This comes after a two-day NATTB Assessor training delivered by NATTB Assistant Director Arthur Geno, at the Porgera Mine from 24-25 September, 2019.

This means these assessors will assist NATTB officers to conduct assessments on the mine’s trade trainees, unlike previous years when the assessment on trainees was done only by the NATTB representatives.

Maintenance Training Technical Specialist Craig Reaks said these 16 assessors will now assist NATTB assessors award competent trade trainees qualification as tradespeople.

He was fatally injured in a shooting incident at the mine on the night of 29 September.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Barrick Gold, Mark Bristow, and the Chairman of Zijin Mining, Chen Jinghe, made the following comments this morning: “We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Samuel Marefa, an Asset Protection Officer at the Porgera Mine who sustained a serious gunshot injury on the night of 29 September.

Mine management reported that shortly after midnight on Sunday 29 September, an unknown assailant fired upon the Asset Protection Officer as he was patrolling an area in steep terrain within the mine perimeter fence.

BNL Executive Managing Director, Tony Esplin, confirmed that the officer had sustained a serious firearm injury and was evacuated by air to Port Moresby for urgent surgical treatment.

“The Asset Protection Officer received a single gunshot wound to the upper body and is in a very serious but stable condition,” Esplin said.

Barrick (Niugini) Limited (BNL), operator of the Porgera Mine, said Mine management reports that during the night of Sunday 29 September, several large groups of unauthorised intruders, believed to be illegal miners, gained access to the mine’s Open Pit, and that a number of the intruders were injured after falling from extremely steep inclines while climbing through the area.