A controversial mine in Papua New Guinea has resumed operations after a 16-day partial shutdown due to the drought.
The Post Courier reports the Porgera gold mine in Enga Province had to shut down operations to conserve water.
The operator, Barrick Niugini Limited, says the water levels at the dam at Waile Creek have reached sufficient levels to start operating the plants.
The mine workforce arrangements were not affected as a result of the partial shutdown, but the company brought forward maintenance work that would have occurred at a later date.
Porgera mine. Photo: wikicommons / Richard Farbellini
Barrick says operations at the mine remain on track to meet this year's operational targets.
It operates the mine on behalf of the Porgera Joint Venture partners.
The mine employs more than 2,500 Papua New Guineans, and over the life of the mine it has contributed about 10 per cent of PNG's total annual exports.