"This effectively means that the status quo of BNL being in possession of the Porgera mine site and maintaining it in a state of care and maintenance remains, without the interference of the state or other parties," Barrick said yesterday.

The company is legally challenging both PNG's refusal to extend Porgera's SML and its decision last month to award the SML to state-owned Kumul Minerals Holdings.

BNL made the comments yesterday in response to a statement by prime minister James Marape, who had referred to the legal action regarding the SML extension and hinted at nationalisation of the shuttered gold mine.

Marape said the state reserved its right to give consent, one year after the SML's expiry on August 16, 2019, for Porgera's assets "to become the property of the state without any cost".

Marape said the state also expected the new leaseholder to re-open the mine immediately.

"While the prime minister was correct in stating that on 25 September, the Supreme Court dismissed BNL's application for the court to stay the decision of the National Court pending determination of the appeal, this does not represent the end of the legal proceedings currently before the Supreme Court as the appeal is still proceeding," BNL said.

It said in delivering the decision on the stay application, the Supreme Court's Justice Makail had affirmed BNL had an arguable case to be heard on appeal.

"Justice Makail concluded that it is in the interests of justice that the present status quo be maintained in relation to SML 1," it said.

"BNL refers the prime minister to his previous public comments regarding respect for the prerogative of BNL to exercise its legal rights through the courts, and urges the prime minister to refrain from making further public comments, pending determination of the current legal proceedings."

Marape said on Facebook yesterday some things were worth fighting for.

"I'd rather be called stupid for the gain of majority then called brilliant for the gain of the status quo few," he said.

BNL described itself as the majority owner and operator of the Porgera gold mine, which it had suspended in April after the SML extension was refused.

BNL is 47.5%-owned by Barrick and Zijin Mining, and the provincial government and landowners own 5% of the Porgera JV via Mineral Resources Enga.