"Work at PNG mine set to restart after deal reached", 3 May 2023

The company that is set to recommence operating the Porgera Mine in Papua New Guinea's Enga Province is hoping to start work there before the end of this year.

The New Porgera Ltd is the result of two plus years of negotiations between Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold and the PNG Government, which had been seeking a bigger cut.

Barrick Gold and its investment partner Zijin Mining will hold 49 percent in the new company while the PNG government, the provincial government and the landowners will retain 51 percent.

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A major concern for Bristow is the latest violence in the Porgera district which poses a threat to the mine and its workers.

A number of people died last week in tribal fighting.

Bristow said the company is already employing 1000 people, many of them local, and this will soon rise to 3000.

But he said, because of the fighting in the streets, many workers cannot get to work.

"That's not right. It's not right for a bunch of thugs to prevent people to earn a decent wage and the mining industry pays really well compared to anywhere else, particularly Papua New Guinea. And we prefer local people. We develop them, invest in upskilling our local employees, we want local businessmen," he said.

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