A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining
A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining
A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining
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Figure 5.13 - Misima after rehabilitation<br />
MINE: Misima Gold and Silver M<strong>in</strong>e<br />
LOCATION: Misima Island, 200km east of Papua New Gu<strong>in</strong>ea (PNG)<br />
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Operation operated by Misima M<strong>in</strong>es Ltd and owned<br />
through a jo<strong>in</strong>t venture between Placer Dome – Misima M<strong>in</strong>es’ parent company<br />
– (80%) and PNG State Company Orogen M<strong>in</strong>erals (20%). In 2006 Barrick<br />
acquired Placer Dome and its m<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
AREA OF LEADING PRACTICE: Development of an area’s human and social<br />
capital as part of m<strong>in</strong>e’s operation and closure plans.<br />
HANDBOOK(S) REFERENCE: Community Engagement, Work<strong>in</strong>g with<br />
Indigenous Communities, M<strong>in</strong>e Closure and Completion.<br />
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION: Gold and Silver m<strong>in</strong>e open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1990,<br />
operations were completed <strong>in</strong> May 2001 with s<strong>to</strong>ckpile mill<strong>in</strong>g cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g until<br />
the closure <strong>in</strong> 2004.<br />
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS: Misima Island was seen as be<strong>in</strong>g particularly<br />
vulnerable <strong>to</strong> the social impacts of large-scale m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g as it had not been<br />
exposed <strong>to</strong> a large-scale <strong>development</strong> before, and had limited experience<br />
with a cash economy. Prior <strong>to</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>e open<strong>in</strong>g, life on the island consisted<br />
of subsistence farm<strong>in</strong>g and fish<strong>in</strong>g. This was supplemented with cash<br />
earned from the sale of copra. For most families this was enough <strong>to</strong> buy<br />
manufactured <strong>to</strong>ols and utensils, and sometimes <strong>to</strong> pay school fees.<br />
A GUIDE TO LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MINING 147