History of Mining in Papua New Guinea

Prior to Independence, since the mining days in Sudest, Misima, Wau Bulolo and elsewhere, all mining activities were administrated by the Territory of Papua New Guinea Administration.

All mining activities were regulated by the Mining Ordinances, based on the 1872 Queensland Mining Legislations. In the years leading to Independence, and with Panguna Mine blooming, the Administration started discussions on the Territory having its own Mining Act. The basis for this Act is to enable the benefits from Panguna to benefit the Territory or a Independent Papua New Guinea, hence the enactment of the Mining Act 1992.

The Mining Act 1992 is the legislation, currently administered by the Mineral Reasources Authority to regulate all mining activities. The Mineral Reasources Authority is sprouted from the Department of Mining.

Before that was the Department of Mining, Petroleum and Energy, which came from the old Department of Natural Resources.