Tolukuma Gold Mine supports health and education in Goilala district

Students using the oven

High school teachers' computer laboratory

Male boarding students of Sacred Heart

Students using the computer laboratory

The Tolukuma Gold Mine, a subsidiary of Papua New Guinea’s national oil, gas and mineral company, Petromin, has increased its community support budget to improve the lives of the isolated communities in the Goilala district.

The company is concentrating its assistance on water and sanitation projects as well as education of the next generation of Goilala leaders.

The company’s programme is consistent with the Petromin Group’s policy of investing part of their minerals revenue into socially-responsible investments.

TGM general manager John Moore said the mine had been constructing public toilets in the villages close to the mine site and water reticulation systems at Mondo to improve the health and hygiene of the population near the mine.

“Health conditions are difficult due to a lack of infrastructure and TGM is working to improve health and hygiene around Tolukuma where many of TGM’s workers from the mine area live,” he said.

TGM also supports the Yulai sub-clinic.

Additional mobile medical clinics travel out on the newly-created Tolukuma to Mondo Road and many emergency medical evacuations have occurred using the TGM-contracted helicopters to enable critically-ill Goilalans to reach hospital care in Port Moresby. 

On education, the mine provides K10, 000 per month to the Sacred Heart High School in Tapini for food and other materials to support the education of the students who attend this important high school.

In 2004, The Sacred Heart High School  was on the verge of closing down due to shortage of rations which were flown in from Port Moresby when the High School Board Chairman, Catholic Fr Brian Cahill msc made a call to Tolukuma management for assistance.

Tolukuma Gold Mines responded positively and began donating to Sacred Heart High School.

An annual acquittal report received from Fr Brian shows that the money is put in good use.

At the same time, TGM has supported the high school’s programmes which include the maintenance to school buildings, staff and student accommodations, an installation of the computer lab, music department, cooking oven and mixer as well as clinic and ward.

The Blessed Peter ToRot Primary School at Tapini has also benefited from TGM’s assistance, with part of the monthly donation to the high school spent on improving the primary school including the purchase of a computer pack, new classroom buildings and maintenance done to school building and staff accommodation. 

Finally and from community relations perspectives, the staff and students of both the Sacred Heart High School and Blessed PeterToRot Primary School are much delighted with the support that Tolukuma Mine is putting into the sustainability of these schools.