Mine unaffected so far

By PETER ESILA
THE approval of major resource projects around the country will boost economic recovery, says a mine executive.
Ok Tedi Mining Ltd chief executive and managing director Peter Graham told The National that production and sales from the mine were so far unaffected by the Covid-19 and state of emergency.
“I am sure the Government is evaluating ways to stimulate economic recovery once it is safe to do so,” he said. “Approval of large resource projects would boost confidence and as those projects ramp up, they would contribute to economic recovery.”
Prime Minister James Marape indicated last week that talks were on-going on speeding up resource projects such as Pasca A in Gulf, P’nyang in Western and Wafi-Golpu in Morobe. According to the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, export revenue from petroleum and mineral products hit a record K27.6 billion in 2018, compared to K25.4 billion in 2017.
Graham said Ok Tedi’s aim was to keep operating as long as safety measures were in place.
He said production and sales from Ok Tedi were, so far, unaffected.
“We are ensuring that workers who are on site have rostered breaks to ensure that fatigue does not become an issue,” he said.
“Crews who were on site when the state of emergency was declared have remained. We are not rotating crews at this time.
“Some employees have left the site to be with their families and we are temporarily standing-down some employees whose jobs do not immediately impact production and whose work can be deferred.
“We are not laying off employees.
“Local contractors are also demobilising some of their employees.”