Papua New Guinea

In 2024, Papua New Guinea was the world’s ninth-ranked producer of cobalt, accounting for 0.9% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, and silver. Production of mineral and metal commodities, excluding oil and natural gas, contributed 8.5% to the Papua New Guinea’s real gross domestic product. 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Papua New Guinea is provided by the Mining (Safety) Act 1977, the Mining Act 1992 (amended in 2020), and the Mineral Resources Authority Act 2005 (amended in 2018). The Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) provides regulatory services for the minerals industry, conducts research for mineral resources, and negotiates mining development contracts with domestic and foreign companies holding exploration and mining tenements in Papua New Guinea. Most mineral commodities were produced by domestic, government owned companies, in joint venture partnership with foreign companies.