PNG Parliament Committee Flags Massive Gold Revenue Losses
Papua New Guinea is losing vast sums of money through illegal alluvial gold exports, with a parliamentary committee warning of organized smuggling operations undermining national revenue.
Oro Governor Gary Juffa, chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery, released an initial statement this week outlining findings of a regulatory breakdown. He said official gold output has plunged to 40,000 ounces, less than half the country’s previous peak of 120,000.
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| PNG Parliament Committee Flags Massive Gold Revenue Losses |
“The scale of gold being smuggled out of PNG is more than double what is legally declared,” Juffa said. “This is a direct, substantial theft from our public services, our schools and our hospitals.”
He added that the issue stems from both weak oversight capacity and conflicting government policies, conditions that have enabled foreign syndicates to exploit vulnerable landowners with little long-term benefit.
The committee is drafting a final report urging the creation of a high-impact compliance and audit task force, stronger enforcement measures, and clear regulatory controls free from external influence.
Governor Juffa appealed for unity among stakeholders, saying urgent reforms were critical to safeguard PNG’s gold resources and secure the nation’s economic future.
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