ABSTRACT
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has some of the biggest and most advanced opencast mines in the world. The country also awaits one of the world’s largest underground mine with block-caving method in the future. PNG already stands on the threshold of having the world’s first hard rock deep sea mine. The nation also holds enormous potential in the area of geothermal energy, which would bring another dimension to the regulation of its robust and world-class mining industry.
The mining sector is an important sector for the economic and social well-being of the people of PNG. This is because PNG’s economy has been largely dependent on the mining sector for revenue generation since independence and continues to do so. Nonetheless, no progress can be considered worthwhile if it ultimately does not result in a safe and healthy society—a vision that also very well aligns with PNG’s long-term national goals. Occupational health and safety (OHS) for the mining industry in PNG is governed by an outdated legislation, and the regulators lack manpower resources and capacity building.
The long absence of a full-time chief inspector till late 2008 rendered the Mines Inspectorate inefficient, directionless, and disintegrated, leading to high rates of accidents and incidents. On the international platform, PNG virtually had no recognition as a mine safety regulator!
This chapter illustrates how the Mines Inspectorate, with such a dismal and disappointing backdrop, tunneled its way through a mountain of odd challenges during all these years and turned the tables on the other side on all fronts.
Resultantly, not only did the safety performance improve drastically, but the whole industry also knitted into one big family that now shares many common platforms to deliver various safety and health programs as a cohesive and committed team. Going forward, PNG’s profile in the international arena is also lifted to an entirely new level.
