NEWCREST Mining has awarded five employees at its Lihir operation for their contribution towards a K3.6 million project in Lihir, Nimamar Local Level Government, New Ireland province.
Lihir’s Community Development Superintendent Mathew Laien, and local Lihirian women Administrators Christine Tohiele, Francisca Bek, Salome Kiapsisis and Monica Beno received the company’s ‘Living Our Values’ awards for displaying Newcrest’s core value of ‘Working Together’ during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The employees were recognised for working as a team in providing administration and logistic support to deliver Lihir’s Health Facility Maintenance project in Lihir.
Newcrest, Nimamar Local Level Government, 13 Tenement Landholders and other key stakeholders initiated the project through Lihir’s Joint Stakeholder Committee in April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Joint Stakeholder committee also includes representatives from the PNG Royal Constabulary, Mineral Resources Authority, MRL Capital, Lihir Malaria Elimination Program, Anitua, International SOS, Churches, Lihir Youths and Women’s Associations and the Lihir Mining Area Landowner Association. The committee was set up to identify and address current development issues in Lihir.
Through this project, the Newcrest Lihir Community Development team refurbished 11 health facilities across Lihir Group of islands in eight months, making basic health services available and accessible to more than 25,000 people.
Lihir’s Head of Non-Process Infrastructure and Operational Services, Daniel May, represented Newcrest in presenting the awards to the employees on 17 July 2021 and praised them for their commitment and outstanding performance during a challenging pandemic.
“Congratulations team – you have gone above and beyond to deserve this recognition. Your achievement has made Newcrest Lihir proud of the work we do in Lihir, New Ireland and in Papua New Guinea. We have the best people, mostly Papua New Guineans and Lihirians working in Lihir gold operation; we are proud of that as a business,” highlighted Mr May.
He added that their achievement reflects Newcrest’s strong commitment in ensuring it remains a safe and sustainable business for its host communities, investors, and workforce.