Digitization Starts Here

Posted on October 23, 2025 by 1-Tok Team | www.1-tok.com

In the rugged highlands and remote islands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), where tectonic forces have gifted the nation with vast deposits of gold, copper, nickel, and cobalt, the mining sector stands as a powerhouse of economic potential. As of 2025, this industry contributes approximately 25% to PNG's GDP, fueling infrastructure growth, employment for tens of thousands, and international investment across provinces like Enga, Western, and New Ireland. Major operations such as the Porgera Gold Mine, Ok Tedi Copper-Gold Mine, Lihir Gold Mine, and the expanding Ramu Nickel-Cobalt project underscore PNG's role in the global supply chain for critical minerals essential to renewable energy and manufacturing. Yet, beneath this promise lies a sector grappling with operational hurdles: remote terrains that complicate logistics, environmental pressures demanding sustainable practices, and manual processes that breed inefficiencies in asset tracking, project oversight, and team coordination.

At 1-Tok, we believe digitization is the catalyst for unlocking PNG's mining future. Platforms like Odoo—an open-source ERP system tailored for resource-intensive industries—offer a blueprint for transformation. Odoo's modular design integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, enabling real-time data flow without the need for costly overhauls. In this article, we'll explore how Odoo can streamline operations in PNG's mining landscape, with a special focus on the leap from manual tracking to Odoo's real-time inventory prowess.

The Mining Sector in PNG: A Landscape of Opportunity and Obstacle

PNG's mining story is one of contrasts. Since the 1970s, the sector has evolved from small-scale alluvial operations—employing 60,000 to 80,000 artisanal miners—to world-class industrial ventures that exported 1.9 million ounces of gold in recent years. In 2025, projections show growth at 6.9%, driven by the Porgera's resumption and new explorations in Manus and New Ireland, positioning PNG as a key Pacific player in critical minerals like cobalt and nickel.

However, challenges abound. Remote sites in dense rainforests and at elevations up to 2,000 meters exacerbate logistical nightmares, from delayed supply deliveries to fragmented communication between field teams and headquarters. Environmental legacies, such as riverine tailings pollution, demand stricter compliance, while community relations require transparent engagement to avoid conflicts seen in past operations like Panguna. Increasing operational costs, fluctuating commodity prices, and the push for sustainability further strain resources.

Enter digitization. By adopting integrated platforms like Odoo, mining companies can bridge these gaps, fostering efficiency, accountability, and growth. Odoo's cloud-based architecture thrives in low-bandwidth environments, making it ideal for PNG's challenging terrains.

Odoo's Role in Elevating Mining Operations

Odoo isn't just software—it's a unified ecosystem that addresses PNG mining's pain points head-on. From asset tracking to inter-team collaboration, its modules automate and connect processes, reducing errors and empowering decision-makers.

Enhancing Asset Tracking: From Spreadsheets to Smart Lifecycle Management

In PNG's mining ops, assets like heavy excavators, haul trucks, and drilling rigs are the lifeblood of production. Yet, manual tracking via spreadsheets or paper logs often leads to overlooked maintenance, unexpected breakdowns, and inflated costs—issues amplified by remote access limitations.

Odoo's Asset Management module revolutionizes this by providing a centralized dashboard for the full asset lifecycle: acquisition, deployment, maintenance, and disposal. Track equipment location via GPS integration, monitor usage hours in real-time, and schedule predictive maintenance based on performance data. For instance, at a site like Ok Tedi, where low-bandwidth is the norm, Odoo's offline mode ensures field teams can log inspections and sync data upon reconnection.

This shift minimizes downtime—critical in an industry where a single halted drill can cost thousands daily—and ensures compliance with PNG's evolving regulations, such as the 2025 Mining Bill's emphasis on sustainable practices. Integration with Odoo's Accounting module automatically handles depreciation and financial reporting, freeing up resources for core extraction activities.

Streamlining Project Management: Keeping Complex Ventures on Track

PNG's mining projects, from the multi-year Wafi-Golpu copper-gold development to Porgera's revival, involve juggling timelines, budgets, and stakeholders across vast distances. Manual project tracking via emails and disjointed tools fosters delays, miscommunication, and budget overruns.

Odoo's Project Management module offers Gantt charts, task assignments, and milestone tracking in a collaborative interface. Assign roles to field engineers, procurement teams, and community liaisons, with automated reminders for deadlines. Real-time updates ensure HQ visibility into on-site progress, even in Bougainville's isolated reaches. For sustainability-focused initiatives, like environmental impact assessments mandated by the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), Odoo logs compliance data, generating audit-ready reports.

The result? Projects like Ramu Nickel can accelerate by 20-30% through optimized resource allocation, turning potential bottlenecks into seamless workflows.

Boosting Communication: Bridging Teams in Remote Realms

Effective communication is PNG mining's Achilles' heel—field crews in Enga Province might wait days for HQ directives due to poor connectivity, leading to safety risks and operational silos.

Odoo's Discuss and Portal modules create a secure, mobile-friendly hub for instant messaging, file sharing, and notifications. Integrate it with email and SMS for low-tech access, ensuring even remote teams stay looped in. For inter-team dynamics, shared dashboards visualize KPIs, like daily ore yields or safety incidents, fostering alignment between operations, finance, and community relations groups. In a sector where trust with local stakeholders is paramount, Odoo's transparency tools can even extend to community portals for progress updates, mitigating conflicts proactively.

Manual Tracking vs. Odoo Real-Time Inventory: A Game-Changing Contrast

Nowhere is digitization's impact more stark than in inventory management. PNG mining sites stockpile vast arrays of supplies—from fuels and explosives to spare parts—often scattered across multiple warehouses or field depots. Manual methods, reliant on periodic physical counts and error-prone ledgers, invite stockouts, overordering, and waste, exacerbating supply chain complexities in a nation where logistics can span treacherous terrains.

Consider a typical scenario at a mid-tier gold mine like Hidden Valley: Manual tracking might involve weekly clipboard audits, prone to human error and delays in reporting. A misplaced shipment of drill bits could halt operations for hours, costing thousands, while excess inventory ties up capital amid fluctuating metal prices.

Odoo flips this script with its Inventory module, delivering real-time visibility through barcode scanning, automated reordering, and multi-location tracking. Here's a side-by-side look:

By unifying procurement, warehousing, and transport in one system, Odoo ensures materials flow predictably—vital for projects like the Frieda River Mine, where supply delays could derail timelines. Early adopters report 20% cost reductions in inventory holding, directly boosting profitability in a volatile market.

Toward a Digitized Mining Future in PNG

As PNG's mining sector eyes 2025 expansions—like the Wafi-Golpu joint venture and small-scale formalization drives—embracing tools like Odoo isn't optional; it's essential for sustainable growth. Digitization promises not just efficiency gains but equitable benefits: empowered local teams, reduced environmental footprints through precise resource use, and stronger community ties via transparent reporting.

At 1-Tok, we're committed to guiding PNG businesses through this digital shift. Whether you're a junior explorer in New Ireland or a major operator at Lihir, Odoo can be your starting point. Ready to digitize? Contact us at www.1-tok.com to schedule a demo and see how real-time insights can transform your operations.

1-Tok: Empowering PNG's Digital Tomorrow, One Odoo Module at a Time.