Mining

Mining has long been the mainstay of the PNG economy, representing more than two-thirds of the government’s revenues in 2011. Moreover, with its top commodities of gold and copper selling at near-record prices on global markets, the country is drawing increased attention from resource firms. Indeed, more than half of the country’s land area is covered by mining permits in the application process. These include China’s biggest investment in the South Pacific, the $1.5bn Ramu nickel and cobalt mine, as well as several forays into deep-sea mining. It remains to be seen, however, whether PNG’s renewed mining push will safeguard against the social and environmental hazards that have plagued it in the past. This chapter includes interviews with Byron Chan, Minister of Mining; Greg Anderson, Executive Director, Papua New Guinea Chamber of Mines and Petroleum; and Peter Aitsi, Country Manager, Newcrest Mining.