Awi: Western not aware of dredging deal

WESTERN Governor Toboi Awi Yoto says the provincial government would like to know the commercial arrangement of the company dredging the sediment from the Fly River.
“We are not aware of that, but it came out of the minister’s (Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Wera Mori) mouth that any commercial arrangements would have to be done with the OTML (Ok Tedi Mining Ltd),” he said.
“It is not a NEC (National Executive Council) decision, if there is a commercial transaction, then we the provincial government will talk to the investor then come up with commercial terms but at this stage, we are not aware of it.”
Governor Yoto said Mori had made the comment that the dredging of sediment was part of OTML’s environmental management plan to clean up the Fly River.
The understanding was that OTML would do a study to see if it was possible and they would then notify the Conservation and Environmental Protection Agency before a contractor was engaged.
“We have asked the Government and the Prime Minister is not aware of it.”