NIP mines powerful, says GG

Islands, Normal

THE Lihir and Simberi gold mines in New Ireland have now become powerful in terms of gold extraction, Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane said.
Speaking to more than 3,000 people at the Londolovit playing field in Lihir last Thursday, Sir Paulias said the
two mines now jointly produced about 67% of all gold produced by mines in Papua New Guinea.
He said this was very high and was good and he believed when Simberi gold mine expanded its production facilities, this percentage would increase.
“So far as money is concerned here, you have it because of extraction of gold from the ground,” Sir Paulias said.
Confirming reports that landowners on Lihir were the richest as far as money was concerned, he attributed this to the work of Lihir Gold Limited, operator and manager of the Lihir gold mine.
Sir Paulias appealed to Lihir people to look after their money and not to use it on activities  as in the consumption of alcohol and encouraged them to keep doing good things for themselves.
After his address, Sir Paulias and his delegation were given a guided tour of LGL’s geothermal power station.
He also visited Lihir High School where he addressed students, teachers, parents and islanders, calling on them to learn to be good citizens by having a good attitude towards life.
Sir Paulias urged them to set goals and plans on what they wanted to achieve in life.