Sandvik Mining said it is reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting the growing mining industry in Papua New Guinea through expanded facilities, increased operational capacity, enhanced logistics and continued investment in people and local capability.
Sandvik has operated a local entity in PNG for more than five years, providing equipment, parts, technical support and services to some of the country’s leading mining companies, such as New Porgera Limited, K92 Mining Ltd, Lihir Gold Limited, Monier Limited, Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Ltd, Quest Exploration Drilling (PNG) Ltd and Ok Tedi.
“As the Sandvik fleet in PNG continues to grow, the company has expanded its facilities in Lae to improve service delivery, strengthen in-country support and create a more stable and efficient operating base for employees and customers,” the equipment maker said. It also noted that its Customer Support Centre in Lae now plays a vital role in supporting PNG customers through service coordination, major component repairs and future equipment rebuild cycles.
Sandvik now says it has delivered and is supporting more than 40 units of equipment in PNG across underground trucks, loaders, underground drills, surface drills and rotary drills. The installed base, which continues to grow, has been and will continue to be supported through coordinated parts planning, local warehousing, component repair capability and in-country resourcing.
“Papua New Guinea is an important market for Sandvik, and our continued investment reflects both the growth we are seeing in-country and our commitment to supporting customers with reliable, local service and technical capability,” said Andy Chirita, head of Parts and Services, Sales Area Australia, New Zealand and PNG.
The expanded Lae facilities and future plans improve Sandvik’s ability to support customers with parts availability, component repair capability and future equipment rebuild cycles, while also providing improved long-term stability and working conditions for employees. The site also supports coordinated parts planning between Lae and Brisbane, local warehousing and in-country resourcing.
Sandvik said its PNG facilities now employ 24 people across its Lae and Porgera operations. Alongside investing in its own Papua New Guinea workforce, Sandvik is also committed to helping upskill local Papua New Guinean talent more broadly through operator training, machine maintenance training and the transfer of technical knowledge to build long-term capability in the country.
“Our investment is not only in Sandvik’s own people and facilities, but also in building capability in Papua New Guinea,” said Chirita. “By strengthening local support and helping develop skills in-country, we are building a stronger foundation for our customers, our employees and the long-term growth of the mining industry in PNG.”
Sandvik is also supporting customers in Papua New Guinea with its Remote Monitoring Service (RMS), which uses intelligent technology to help prevent and predict equipment breakdowns before they occur. This helps improve reliability, reduce downtime and support more proactive maintenance planning.
Sandvik’s progress in Papua New Guinea has included securing long-term facilities in Lae, expanding workshop and warehouse capability, developing a national workforce and strengthening the team supporting customers in the country. These investments reflect Sandvik’s long-term commitment to Papua New Guinea and its ambition to be a trusted partner to the mining industry.
Source: Sandvik Mining