Barrick Gold Suspends Operations at Papua New Guinea Mine Amid Deadly Clashes
Barrick Gold has suspended operations at the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea following violent clashes that resulted in the deaths of two employees.
The company halted mining activities to ensure the safety of its workers, with operations expected to resume on Thursday, according to a statement from Barrick’s local unit. Most of the mine’s workforce comes from nearby communities.
The violence, which erupted about a week ago, involved two groups of illegal miners and has claimed at least 20 lives, according to Máté Bagossy, the United Nations’ humanitarian adviser for the South Pacific region. While the last 24 hours have seen relative calm,
Bagossy noted it is too early to determine if the situation is de-escalating. The clashes are believed to be driven by various factors, including tribal affiliations and alliances.
Barrick, the world’s second-largest gold producer, had only recently reached an agreement with Papua New Guinea to reopen Porgera, which had been shut down since 2020. In 2019, the mine contributed approximately 5% of the company’s total gold production.
In response to the escalating conflict, Papua New Guinea’s government has granted police emergency powers to restore order. Barrick owns 24.5% of the Porgera mine, with China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. also holding a stake.
