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The Challenges of Lawlessness in Mining Sites in Papua New Guinea: A Case of Porgera Gold Mine in Enga


Authors : Starza Paul; Ero Wambu

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/22t956kk

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/bbxeae4m

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May217

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Abstract : The Porgera Gold Mine in Enga is one of the largest open pit and underground mining operations in Papua New Guinea. Lawlessness in mining sites can be multidimensional. Lawlessness experiences in mining sites are frequently associated with illegal, unregulated, or artisanal mining operations, characterized by a lack of state oversight, high danger, environmental devastation, and corruption (Schwartz, Lee & Darrah, 2021). Such activities are often said to work outside of established legal frameworks that may lead to increased law-and-order issues. Factors such as conflict of interest was looked at carefully in the Porgera Gold Mine case to establish reasons for the lawlessness experience at the mine site. This research was mainly qualitative in nature, but the quantitative approach was employed as well for the convenience of good data collection and analysis. While analyzing the work, the researchers used MS Excel to generate our data. It was recognized that lawlessness is prevalent in the mining areas around the world and are also happening in Papua New Guinea. Porgera is one of those worst mining zones in the South Pacific, where the mine-related problems are very high which threatens the lives of people and suppresses the flow of socioeconomic services in the host communities and the nation.

Keywords : Lawlessness, Open Pit, Underground Mine, Conflicts, Illegal Mine, Mine Sites, Law and Order

References :

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The Porgera Gold Mine in Enga is one of the largest open pit and underground mining operations in Papua New Guinea. Lawlessness in mining sites can be multidimensional. Lawlessness experiences in mining sites are frequently associated with illegal, unregulated, or artisanal mining operations, characterized by a lack of state oversight, high danger, environmental devastation, and corruption (Schwartz, Lee & Darrah, 2021). Such activities are often said to work outside of established legal frameworks that may lead to increased law-and-order issues. Factors such as conflict of interest was looked at carefully in the Porgera Gold Mine case to establish reasons for the lawlessness experience at the mine site. This research was mainly qualitative in nature, but the quantitative approach was employed as well for the convenience of good data collection and analysis. While analyzing the work, the researchers used MS Excel to generate our data. It was recognized that lawlessness is prevalent in the mining areas around the world and are also happening in Papua New Guinea. Porgera is one of those worst mining zones in the South Pacific, where the mine-related problems are very high which threatens the lives of people and suppresses the flow of socioeconomic services in the host communities and the nation.

Keywords : Lawlessness, Open Pit, Underground Mine, Conflicts, Illegal Mine, Mine Sites, Law and Order

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - May - 2026

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