Mining Minister Hon Sir Ano Pala Presents Mineral Production Outlook

Mining Minister Hon Sir Ano Pala today presented the country’s mineral production outlook to a room packed with PNG and overseas delegates from government and private sectors, attending the 17th PNG Resources & Energy Investment Conference in Sydney.

Minister Pala said PNG expected a strong total annual copper production for a period of over 30 years after Wafi-Golpu and Frieda River projects are commissioned as operating mines. He said during the 30 year period, production may average between 500,000 tons, to a maximum of 700,000 tons per annum.
He said these mega projects would take five to seven years of construction and potentially by 2030, the projects would become operating mines, adding onto the list of existing operating mines such as Ok Tedi, and possibly Kainantu.

“Indeed, PNG will become a significant copper producer for critical minerals in the globe, possibly for over a period of three decades,” said Sir Minister Pala.
He said gold production from PNG had dropped from over two million ounces of gold, to about 1.3 million ounces gold per annum, since closure of the Porgera mine.