Singapore company launches mining venture in Papua New Guinea

SINGAPORE -- A Singaporean heavy equipment manufacturer has started a mining venture in Papua New Guinea, joining Chinese, Australian and other miners in tapping the resource-rich country that has recently been troubled by civil unrest.

Powerplus Group said its subsidiary, Niugini Resources and Investments, received a license from Papua New Guinea authorities in the last quarter of 2023 to explore for and mine copper, gold and manganese. The mining will take place in an area covering almost 700 square kilometers, about the size of Singapore itself.