Landowners threaten to shut Ok Tedi mine

Wednesday, January 27, 1999 - 11:00


Landowners threaten to shut Ok Tedi mine


Landowners near BHP's giant Ok Tedi gold and copper mine have threatened
to close the mine if the Papua New Guinea government does not agree to
review an agreement between the state and landowners by the end of January,
the National newspaper reported on January 20.

 The agreement, signed in 1991, provides for benefits to flow to
the landowners from the state. There is supposed to be a review of the
agreement every five years, but Port Moresby has not honoured its obligations.

Not only is the review three years' overdue, but many of the promised
benefits have not been delivered.

Borok Pitalok, the landowners' spokesperson, said on January 19 that
villagers would force the closure of the mine if the Department of Mineral
Resources does not come to the negotiating table by the end of the month.
The mine has a remaining life span of less than nine years.

“The mine on our land has served the country and the government well,
and they cannot play around with us like this”, Pitalok said.

The landowners' move is being supported by the Fly River provincial
government. Governor Nobert Makmop said any action the landowners take
would have his full blessing.

From GLW issue 346