Nabilah S
For 33 years, PNG’s mining industry has operated under the Mining Act 1992, with 15 years of consultations shaping the development of the Mining Bill 2025.
The Mining Bill 2025 was launched on Tuesday, February 25, marking the final phase of feedback before its submission to the National Parliament for enactment.
Mining Minister Wake Goi stated that 15 years of consultation was sufficient and that it was time to present the bill to Parliament for action. He emphasized the importance of collective input, ensuring all stakeholders were satisfied and had thoroughly analyzed the legislation before its submission.
“Before presenting the bill to Parliament, we are giving all stakeholders—including the mining industry, landowners, and the public—an opportunity to review the draft Mining Bill 2025 and provide feedback. This step is crucial to ensuring the law is robust, transparent, and reflects the interests of all Papua New Guineans. Every comment and suggestion will be carefully considered before finalizing the legislation.”
The Mineral Resources Authority urged stakeholders to approach the new bill with an open mind, considering aspects such as the industry’s operational framework and the introduction of a social license fee to support community development initiatives.
“Any legal changes must have strong justification. We have operated under this legislation for 33 years, and much of the Mining Act 1992 was inherited before independence. Yet, we are still using the same framework.”
Minister Goi stated that the new bill introduces concepts aimed at strengthening mining regulations while ensuring Papua New Guinea maximizes its resource benefits.
Meanwhile, Mining Secretary Harry Kore emphasized the need to amend the law to align with public interests while providing certainty for investors.
