The National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT), through its accreditation arm, the Papua New Guinea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (PNGLAS), has presented Simberi Gold Company Limited with an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certificate of accreditation for the Simberi Gold Mine Process Laboratory, recognising the company's commitment to technical excellence and strengthening Papua New Guinea's national quality infrastructure.
Simberi Gold Mine, part of the St Barbara Group, is one of Papua New Guinea's major gold mining operations and is located in New Ireland Province.
The certificate was presented at NISIT headquarters in Port Moresby on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
Receiving the certificate on behalf of Simberi Gold Company Limited were management representative Danielle Gunnell, senior chemist Alois Tanguri and senior chemist Nathan Aputi.
Presenting the certificate, NISIT Director General Joe Panga congratulated Simberi Gold Company Limited on attaining ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation and commended the laboratory team for its dedication to technical excellence.
"The achievement of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation demonstrates that the laboratory operates in accordance with internationally recognised standards and provides confidence that its testing services are reliable and technically competent," Panga said.
The accreditation journey began with Simberi Gold Company Limited's application in April 2025. Following a comprehensive assessment and the successful close-out of all assessment findings, PNGLAS granted accreditation effective 6 July 2026, with the certificate presentation formally recognising the achievement.
Speaking on behalf of Simberi Gold Company Limited, Danielle Gunnell thanked NISIT and PNGLAS for their guidance throughout the accreditation process and acknowledged the commitment of the laboratory team.
"This has been a long journey for our laboratory, and today marks only the beginning.
"We have now set a high standard for ourselves, and our next challenge is to maintain that standard. This achievement belongs to our entire team, particularly those who led the accreditation process, and we appreciate PNGLAS for its continued support and willingness to assist us into the future."
Senior chemist Nathan Aputi, who led much of the accreditation work, described the process as both challenging and rewarding.
"Achieving accreditation required us to build our systems while continuing our day-to-day laboratory operations. It demanded commitment, teamwork and a willingness to embrace international best practices. Although it was challenging, it has strengthened our laboratory and reinforced the importance of quality, accuracy and integrity in the services we provide to our company and our clients," he said.
PNGLAS Executive Manager Christopher Mosoro commended the Simberi laboratory team for embracing the accreditation process and successfully meeting the requirements of the international standard. He also praised his technical team, led by Laboratory Accreditation Manager Doreen Amuki, for supporting the accreditation process.
"Accreditation is not simply about obtaining a certificate. It is about establishing robust management systems, demonstrating technical competence and fostering a culture of continual improvement. Simberi Gold Company Limited has shown its commitment to quality, and we encourage other laboratories throughout Papua New Guinea to pursue international accreditation as part of strengthening the country's quality infrastructure," Mosoro said.
Established in 2008 to support Simberi Gold Mine's operations, the Process Laboratory plays a critical role in mineral processing and quality assurance. The accreditation recognises the professionalism, technical competence and dedication of the laboratory team and demonstrates that its testing services meet internationally accepted standards.
Laboratory accreditation provides confidence that test results are accurate, reliable and internationally recognised. For Papua New Guinea's mining sector, accredited laboratories improve operational performance, strengthen confidence in testing results and enhance international credibility.
