Papua New Guinea accuses Barrick of plan to illegally export gold

Papua New Guinea’s mining regulator said on Friday it is planning to bring criminal proceedings against a Barrick Gold joint venture over what it says was an attempt to illegally export $13-million in silver and gold to Australia.

PNG’s Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) said it had received paperwork from the Barrick Niugini joint venture on Monday seeking clearance to export silver and gold worth a total of 46.7-million kina ($13.1-million) to the Perth Mint.