Mine operations remain limited: Firm

 BARRICK Niugini Limited says because of the landslip at Lukulama along the Lagaip-Porgera Highway, operations at the Porgera gold mine remains limited.

The company, which manages the Porgera gold mine, had stopped non-essential operations at the mine following the landslip which blocked road access to the mine.

Work on repairing the road was put on hold because the area was still unstable, posing a risk of more earth movement.

“The primary concern at this time is for the safety of our people and the community in which we live and work,” executive director Greg Walker said. The company is looking at options to reconnect the road access so that traffic could resume.

A footpath was built across the landslide for pedestrians.

“While we are able to engage in some production in these circumstances, work to re-establish ground traffic can only progress slowly at this stage,” he said. 

“And without this major transport and supply route, the mine cannot be made fully operational.

“Most non-essential personnel remain on stand-by, with only limited production being undertaken pending the re-establishment of ground access.

“In the coming days, we will be working with our employees to minimise any impact on them of the suspension of some non-essential work at the mine.”

Walker said the company was liaising with Government authorities on repairing the highway.

The landslip caused trucks and services vehicles to stop and stranded on both sides.

People were using bush tracks to travel from Pogera town to their villages in upper Porgera, Alipis and Mungalep.