PNG: Ok Tedi says no sign of planned mine closure

Wednesday, 31 May 2006, 8:49 pm
Press Release: Radio New Zealand International

Ok Tedi says PNG has given no sign of planned mine closure

The Managing Director of the Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea says the company has received no indication from the government about intentions to shut down its operations.

This follows a report in the Post Courier newspaper that PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister Prime Minister, Sir Moi Avei, said cabinet has voted to shut down the mine in 2010.

Sir Moi, who is also the Minister for Petroleum, reportedly told stakeholders that decision was made after Ok Tedi failed to come up with practical solutions to its environment management plan.

However Ok Tedi’s Keith Falconer says Sir Moi’s comments were taken out of context.

“The scheduled mine life is to 2012 and we have no indication from government of any change to that. And there is no reason to believe it would be any different and we are addressing the environmental issues as best we can.”

Keith Falconer, the Managing director of Ok Tedi.

© Scoop Media

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