Delivering excellence in PNG

The ability to deliver high quality projects in challenging conditions is something we’re pretty good at, and that was certainly the case on a recent project in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Our Maintenance and Industrial (M&IS) Eastern Region team and our Engineering Construction (EC) Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) team came together to deliver structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works at the front-end recovery plant at a gold project in PNG.

Balancing logistical challenges, equipment delays and customer expectations, the team completed work on the projects substation, cyclone feed pumps and process infrastructure in PNG.  

M&IS Eastern Region Site Manager, Mark Comollatti, said from day one of the project, the team worked together to deliver a high-quality service to the customer.

“We faced some pretty unique challenges due to the remoteness of the project, the tropical climate and an elevation of 600 metres, equipment delays caused by shipping issues and some customs and visa delays, but it was fantastic we were still able to achieve a great outcome for our customer,” he said. 

EC E&I Superintendent, Gregory Jones, commended the team, attributing the success to the team’s collaborative approach.  

“We had a steady workforce throughout the project and engaged PNG Nationals too, it was a credit to the HR team for getting the right people onboard,” said Greg. 

“Overall, we installed 26,000 metres of cable and completed 550 terminations, an incredible effort by the team in the timeframe,” he said. 

“Despite the hurdles and setbacks, the team has done a fantastic job and proved anything can be done if you have the right people onboard. 

Outside of the work, PNG is a beautiful place to explore, and we’ve been snorkeling and swimming on our rest and recovery days,” he said.  

The work was completed on Lihir Island, which is located 900 kilometers northeast of Port Moresby in the New Ireland province of PNG.  

Well done team for getting the job done!