Barrick Helps Landslide Victims in Papua New Guinea

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Barrick Gold Corp. and its joint venture partner for the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea said they would jointly contribute $1 million to help communities in Papua New Guinea’s Enga province following a landslide that took an estimated 600 lives.

Zijin Mining Group is the joint partner with Barrick, holding 24.5% of Porgera, and Barrick is the operator. Barrick is also operator of Nevada Gold Mines in a joint venture with Newmont Corp. Newmont also has a mine in Papua New Guinea.

Toronto-based Barrick said a team of senior Barrick executives has spent the week in Papua New Guinea visiting the disaster site and working with the provincial and national governments as well as officials from the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, Australia, New Zealand and the United States to coordinate relief and recovery activities.

Reuters wrote on Friday more landslides will likely affect the area where part of a mountain collapsed into the remote village of Mulitaka two weeks ago, according to New Zealand geological experts.

 Authorities ended search and rescue efforts on June 6.

In addition to monetary and in-kind contributions, Porgera is supporting the Enga provincial government with manpower at the disaster operations center in Wabag. Five New Porgera Ltd. employees have been seconded to advise and assist the operations center with logistics, inventory, community relations and media, according to Barrick.

Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow says New Porgera Ltd. is working closely with the Enga provincial government to continue the relief efforts on the ground with key stakeholders from the donor agencies, government and other resource companies.

“Porgera stands ready to provide additional relief and assistance to support impacted families and communities during this time of need,” he said in Friday's announcement.

The mine delivered its second donation of relief supplies to the Mulitaka disaster site on May 31, including food, medical items and tarpaulins for temporary shelter, Barrick stated. It has also sourced eight shipping containers to store relief supplies and dispatched construction personnel to scope the installation of additional structures and water tanks.

 New Porgera Ltd. has mobilized an excavator and a bulldozer to assist with clearing operations and has converted a truck to be capable of pulling a float to help transport equipment, Barrick reported.

The mine is also looking at the viability of using radar to help with monitoring at the slip site.

Additionally, New Porgera Ltd. is working with the Enga provincial government on temporary measures to bring much needed food and fuel to the Porgera valley communities, which depend on the Highlands Highway for essential supplies, the company said.

Courtesy: www.elkodaily.com