Barrick Gold has suspended operations at its Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea until Thursday as local tribes in the region were engaged in armed conflict that left more than 20 people killed.
The violent outbreak between illegal settlers squatting near the gold mine and local landowners led the authorities to grand the police emergency powers, including the use of lethal force, to contain the incident, Reuters reported.
"The Porgera gold mine has suspended the majority of its operations until 19 September for the protection of its employees while the government restores law and order in the surrounding region," a spokesperson for the company said in a statement, adding that two of its employees were killed in the violence.
The Porgera gold project has measured and indicated resources of 10 million ounces and inferred resources of 3.4 million ounces. In 2019, it was put under care and maintenance due to a dispute with authorities over its ownership, as well as previous cases of tribal fighting. The operations resumed earlier this year.
Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished
