Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML)

The award recognises her leadership in development programs for women and children in the Middle Fly Region in Western Province. The award was previously announced at the Mining and Petroleum Conference in Sydney but unfortunately, Matthews was unable to attend.

The award was accepted on her behalf by Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Graham.

In a statement, the firm said: “OTML management has not activated dry weather measures at this stage, but continues to carefully monitor weather forecasts and stocks of critical supplies including food, diesel and urgent parts.

“Over the past 25 days rainfall has been negligible. Most OTML vessels are stranded in the Fly River, unable to deliver critical supplies into Kiunga or shipments of copper concentrate out. At a minimum, occasional heavy storms are needed in the Fly River catchment to allow vessels to transit through the shallows.

The project began in January of 2015 and involved the replacement of 22 old hydrometric stations and construction of new ones at strategic locations in the headwater catchments and along the Ok Tedi and Fly River channels.

These stations will monitor and collect hydrometric information needed to support OTML operations; such as shipping and the Bige Dredge Operation by providing hydrometric data such as rainfall, river level, river flow/ flow rates, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction and solar radiation.

During the signing on Thursday, OTML managing director, Peter Graham, expressed satisfaction at the completion of the three-year agreement, which will be effective in January 2019.

Among other things, the agreement encompasses benefits for the workers such as housing.

OTML managing director, Peter Graham, gave the assurance that the management will respect the agreement.

“I want to make that point very clearly to the union executives – you can count on us to honour the agreement,” he said.

The event saw the participation of 473 employees and contractors, including dependents. 

The fun-run/walkathon ended with a sausage sizzle. 

This year’s NMSW will take place from April 22-27 with the theme ‘Fitness for Work’, focusing on fitness and reducing fatigue. 

OTML deputy CEO and General Manager External Relations, Musje Werror, officially opened the NMSW fun-run/walkathon and encouraged employees to fully participate in the week’s health and safety activities. 

During Monday’s earthquake, a landslip occurred in Western Province, blocking off access to the Ok Tedi Mine road.

The landslip also damaged water and concentrate pipeline and it will take days before the pipes are restored.

Ok Tedi managing director and CEO, Peter Graham, said they hope to have the road cleared by the end of today to allow access for light vehicles into and out of the mine.

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) confirms that the landslip occurred on a section of the Tabubil Mine road in Western Province.

Employees who worked the night shift at the mine and mill have been relocated safely back to Tabubil by helicopter, with all employees accounted for. 

The landslip damaged the water and concentrate pipelines at the slip location. Maintenance work on the damaged pipes will begin as soon as road access is restored and spare pipes are transported to the location.

Eye operations were also performed on an additional 38 patients in Tabubil and 58 patients in Kiunga.

Elsie Newei, 51, from Kopiago in Hela Province and Ruth Eki, 47, of Olsobip Vil¬lage in North Fly, Western Province were very thankful to the visiting eye care team for restoring their sight. 

This was under the CMCA extension agreements, says Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) Deputy Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Employee and External Relations Musje Werror.

“The CMCA Extension Agreements were signed in December 2012 formalising the community consent for the extension of mine life from 2015 – 2025.

“These annual payments are consistent with this agreement,” said Werror.

OTML’s Asset Protection Department (APD) Manager Peter Senat said this when providing an outline of the two-day paramedic accreditation program conducted by Dorish Palangat from St Johns PNG in Tabubil August 23 and 24. 

Senat said the purpose of the program was to assess and accredit OTML’s paramedics as St Johns associate trainers so they can conduct St Johns first aid programs to OTML employees and contractors on site. 

“Due to our FIFO (Fly-In/Fly –Out) roster, three paramedics were initially assessed with the remaining three to be done in September,” said Senat.