Papua New Guinea

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

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. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). Production of mineral and metal commodities, excluding oil and natural gas, contributed 8.5% to the Papua New Guinea’s real gross domestic product (Ewing, 2026; National Statistical Office, 2026, p. 16). 

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. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Asia and the Pacific, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/asia-… (Mineral Resources Authority, 2026a, b). 

Commodity Review 

Cobalt and Nickel.—In 2024, the Ramu Mine Complex produced 28,669 t of nickel contained in mixed hydroxide precipitate and 2,625 t of cobalt. The Ramu Mine complex was owned by Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd. (85%), Nickel 28 Capital Corp. (8.56%), and the Government of Papua New Guinea (6.44%). Decreased production compared to that in previous years resulted from both a 30–day shutdown to implement capital improvements and a mechanical failure at the high-pressure acid leaching facility. The production of mixed hydroxide precipitate in 2024 was less than its design capacity, while production had been exceeding the capacity from 2017 to 2023. As of yearend 2023, the proven reserves at the Kurumbukari Mine of the Ramu Mine Complex included 66 Mt of ore grading 0.8% nickel and 0.09% cobalt (Facilities table; Nickel 28 Capital Corp., 2025, p. 4, 5; 2026, p. 13). 

Copper and Gold.—In 2024, the Kainantu mine, operated by K92 Mining Inc., processed 427,821 tons of ore to produce 4,330 kilograms of gold contained in concentrate and 2,235 t of copper contained in concentrate. During the year, the company continued construction of expansion plant at the mine. The completion of the plant was expected to increased annual throughput of ore to 1.2 million tons per year. The company expected to start commissioning the expansion plant by Q3 2025 (K92 Mining Inc., 2025, p. 6, 7). 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• Ewing, S.M., 2026, Cobalt: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 70–71. 

• K92 Mining Inc., 2025, Management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended February 12, 2026: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, K92 Mining Inc., 19 p. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://k92mining.com/site/assets/files/6416/2024-12-31_knt_mda_final.p….) 

• Mineral Resources Authority, 2026a, About regulatory: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Mineral Resources Authority. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://mra.gov.pg/regulatory/aboutregulatory/.) 

• Mineral Resources Authority, 2026b, About us—Key functions & responsibilities: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Mineral Resources Authority. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://mra.gov.pg/about-mra/about-us/.) 

• National Statistical Office, 2026, National accounts 2019 to 2024: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, National Statistics Office, January 26, 31 p. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://www.nso.gov.pg/download/151/2019-2024/4537/png-gdp-2019_2024_pu….) 

• Nickel 28 Capital Corp., 2025, Management’s discussion and analysis for year ended January 31, 2025, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Nickel 28 Capital Corp., May 28, 31 p. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://www.nickel28.com/_resources/financials/Nickel-28-MDA-January-31…;

• Nickel 28 Capital Corp., 2026, Investor presentation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Nickel 28 Capital Corp., January, 21 p. (Accessed February 12, 2026, at https://www.nickel28.com/_resources/presentations/corporate-presentatio…;