K92 Mining Inc. has announced the retirement of Philip Samar from his role as vice president, government and community affairs. Samar will continue to support the company as a senior advisor in a consulting capacity.
Samar joined K92 in January 2019 as vice president, external and corporate affairs, later retitled vice president, government and community affairs. He brought with him a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in Papua New Guinea’s mining sector.
Prior to joining K92, he served as managing director of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) from 2012 to 2018, where he played a pivotal role in shaping PNG’s mineral policies, engaging international partners, and overseeing the licensing of major mining projects.
At K92, Samar has been instrumental in establishing and strengthening relationships with government, communities, and key stakeholders, significantly advancing the company’s permitting and external affairs strategy. His leadership has been critical in supporting the development of the Kainantu Gold Mine, including the Stage 3 expansion currently under way.
John Lewins, K92 chief executive officer and director, said that Philip has played a key role in strengthening the business in Papua New Guinea since joining K92 in 2019.
“ He has helped deepen our engagement with government and community stakeholders, supported important permitting processes, and provided valuable guidance on regulatory and strategic matters. His experience and understanding of PNG’s mining sector has contributed meaningfully to the advancement of the Kainantu Gold Mine,” Lewins said.
“What has always stood out about Philip is his passion for seeing Papua New Guinea prosper, and his belief in K92’s role as a responsible partner in that journey. His work has reflected a strong commitment to sustainable development, local capacity-building, and long-term value creation for the country and its people,” he added.
Lewins added that K92 is grateful for the professionalism and insight Samar brought to his role, and pleased that he will continue to support the Company in a senior advisory capacity.
“With a strong team in place and a well-established framework for external engagement, we are confident in a smooth transition and continued positive momentum. On behalf of the K92 team, we extend our thanks to Philip for his service and wish him all the best in this next chapter,” Lewins said.
The company will announce Samar’s successor for the community affairs and external relations function in due course. K92 remains committed to strong engagement with PNG’s communities and government, building on the solid foundations Samar helped establish, the executive added.
K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands province, as well as in the exploration and development of nearby mineral deposits.
The company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018 and is in a strong financial position. It is working to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate for the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience.
