Ok Tedi: We care about Fly people

OK Tedi Mining Ltd says it is as concerned about the health and welfare of people living in its mining areas and committed to meeting its responsibilities.
The company said concerned groups, including the MPs, should discuss with it the health issues troubling them and look for a way to resolve the issues.
“OTML has been and remains concerned about the well-being of Papua New Guineans,” its statement said yesterday.,
“We remain dedicated to working with multi-sectoral stakeholders to improve health indicators and outcomes. OTML operates to the 100% benefit of Papua New Guineans and we are committed to meeting our responsibilities as articulated in our agreements with PNG and the mine impacted communities.”
“We remain committed to conducting our business in a transparent manner and we welcome opportunities to engage with stakeholders who are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the CMCA communities.”
The statement comes in the wake of widespread concern raised by MPs, health workers and some landowner groups in Western about serious health issues among people living in the mining area.
They claimed a number of people had died as a result, while there were mysterious illnessness such as women suffering untimely bleeding and others suffering skin diseases that formed nasty sores.
The national health department recently sent a team to the province to investigate.
The company said health issues needed to be addressed by stakeholders such as the national government, provincial government, OTML, OTDF, CMCA communities, Australia plus church health service providers.
It said to alleviate the health challenges in the area, everyone should come up with a holistic and long-term solution.
The company listed five reasons why the province health indicators were among the lowest in the country.
These included the closure of aid posts in Middle and South Fly districts plus the non-availability of medical workers and medicine.
The company said it had assisted the provincial health authorities with logistical support (vessels and aircraft) to conduct two health patrols to 156 impacted communities in the North Fly, Middle Fly and South Fly regions.
It said compensation to the communities affected by the mining operation came from OTML, PNGSDPL and the state.
The company said it was unclear why the Western MPs and landowner groups were raising these issues and calling for the closure of Ok Tedi.
“It is unclear why the MPs and (landowners) representatives have raised these issues since they have not made any attempts to meet with OTML and OTDF to discuss their concerns,” it said.
“We all need to work together for the common good of the CMCA and other communities in the Western province. OTML is 100% owned for the benefit of PNG.
ends