By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
As part of its Engagement Strategy in Papua New Guinea, Newcrest has embarked on building the capacity of its local workforce.
According to Executive General Manager for Wafi-Golpu, Craig Jones, this has begun in various ways, including a mentoring program for potential leaders at the proposed Wafi-Golpu project in Morobe Province.
This is in addition to Newcrest’s support for health, education and public sector capacity building.
With all the talk of the impending development of the Wafi-Golpu mine in Morobe Province, Newcrest, who have a 50% stake in the project, has highlighted the steps it is taking to ensure that Papua New Guinea maximizes its benefits.
According to the Wafi-Golpu Executive General Manager, a key part of this is Newcrest’s National Engagement Strategy, of which Wafi-Golpu is a major component.
Newcrest has also placed increased emphasis on managing the social aspects of the project – particularly in regards to communities, environment, and the national government perspective.
The five key areas of women empowerment, education, health, improving public sector capacity, and environment, are also key themes of Newcrest’s engagement in PNG.
For the Wafi-Golpu project itself, work is already progressing in developing the local workforce to run this project once online.
Developing the project’s future leaders is also being facilitated through a mentoring program, which is going well.
