Sturt Island, Western province, assured of jetty upgrade

By MALUM NALU on Sturt Island

People of remote Sturt Island in the South Fly area of Western province have been assured of an upgrade to their recent-completed jetty by Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF).

Chief executive officer of OTDF, Ian Middleton, made the assurance when speaking at the arrival of the K19 million mv Fly Warrior at Sturt Island on Saturday.

Middleton (left) and a local leader on the Sturt Island jetty on Saturday.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

“We’re going to upgrade this jetty, as well as three other jetties in the South Fly area,” he said.

“We’re going to fence this area in front of the jetty and build a shed.”

He appealed to the people to respect the Fly Warrior and its sister ships, Fly Hope and Fly Explorer, as they moved up and down the Fly River.

Signboard for the recently-completed jetty on Sturt Island.

“They (ships) will bring you income, bring you containers of materials, and you will see them going up and down river,” Middleton said.

“Respect these ships, they’re yours.

“You and people in the middle of nowhere own these vessels.”

Young PNG captain in charge of mv Fly Warrior

By MALUM NALU on Sturt Island

Young Papua New Guinea ship captain Joe Manuhu, who brought in the K19 million mv Fly Warrior from Malaysia to Papua New Guinea and up the Fly River, is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Manuhu in the wheelhouse of the Fly Warrior on Saturday.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Manuhu, 33, from Pao village in Manus, however, is a veteran of the Fly River and is confident of doing a good job.

He was in charge of a crew of 13, two expatriates and 11 nationals, who sailed the Fly Warrior out of Malaysia on December 22 and arrived in Daru on January 2, and then went up the Fly River.

“I’m new to the rank of master,” Manuhu told reporters at Sturt Island on Saturday as the vessel was welcomed.

“I just got my master last year.

“I was previously with Steamships for 10 years going up and down the Fly River, then P&O, and then Consort Express Lines.

“Every day is a learning day.

“It’s always a challenge.”

Fly Warrior will primarily service Ok Tedi Mining Ltd’s operational requirements, carrying up to 72 containers and or 1.2 million litres of fuel, out of Port Moresby but has the capacity to call into Australia when required.

The ship was designed by Shiptech in Singapore, constructed by Sarawak Slipways in Malaysia, and will be operated by V-Ships, the world’s largest shipping fleet manager.

Ok Tedi villages commended for K19 million investment

By MALUM NALU on Sturt Island

Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) chief executive officer Ian Middleton has commended the 156 villages that currently benefit from the Ok Tedi Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) for their decision to invest in the K19 million mv Fly Warrior.

 Fly Warrior along the Fly River on Saturday.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

He said this to hundreds of South Fly villages on Sturt Island, along the banks of the Fly River, on Saturday when delivering the Fly Warrior – bought from their CMCA funds and the third vessel after the arrival of its two sister ships Fly Hope and Fly Explorer last year.

Middleton addresses South Fly villagers including children on Sturt Island.

Apart from the three vessels, the CMCA villagers also have two brand-new Twin Otter aircraft, both of which were delivered towards the end of last year.

Saturday’s was the first of two welcomes for the Fly Warrior, the second being at Obo, further up the Fly River yesterday (Sunday).

South Fly villagers line up the jetty on Sturt Island to board the Fly Warrior.

“I’m happy because you people of South Fly are happy,” Middleton said on Sturt Island.

“I’m happy to deliver this vessel, your vessel.

“I’m very pleased, happy, and humbled at the effort you people have shown in accepting this vessel.

“It shows that you are willing to accept change.

“You can create change and you can bring about prosperity in South Fly.”

South Fly villagers pack the deck of the Fly Warrior on Sturt Island.

Middleton explained that their CMCA funds were held in trust development funds and trust investment funds, with all villages having a say in how these monies were used.”

“That money is to make investments that go beyond mine life,” he said.

“We have to spend the investment funds as soon as possible so that we can make money for you

“All that money (from investments) goes into your development funds.”

Middleton said in the case of Fly Warrior, the 65m bulk carrier would be on dry hire to Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML), and would be generating a minimum 8% return per annum, and 32% residual,  on a capital investment of K19 million.

 Fly Warrior along the Fly River on Saturday.

“We have secured the vessel on behalf of the CMCA people,” he said.

“It will be on lease to OTML for 15 years.

“The same principle applies to the two other vessels and the planes.

“These investments actually work for your development future.”

Latest pictures of Daru, Western province

By MALUM NALU

I flew to Daru last Friday and travelled more than 200 miles up the mighty Fly River by boat for the launch of the new Western province vessel, mv Fly Warrior, at Sturt Island yesterday and at Obo today. 
From there, a long helicopter ride to Kiunga, and then Tabubul.
During my short stopover in Daru, during which I spent some quality time with my tambus before catching a dinghy for the mouth of the Fly, I took these pictures of the forgotten Western province "capital".

Daru Airport

On a wing and a prayer...Missionary Aviation Fellowship Cessna 206 at Daru Airport

Airlines PNG Dash 8 that took us safely to Daru.

Daru airport

Road from Daru Airport

Old public cemetery

Montford Primary School

Street to town

Mango trees

Why chop down these shade trees?

The rundown colonial post office at Daru, Western province, seriously needs to be replaced, as seen last Friday.

Shopping centre

One of the positive developments in Daru...the new K10 million wharf trestle nears completion. It is funded by PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP), and built by contractor Curtain Brothers.

Canoe off Daru, Western province, last Friday.

One of the positive developments in Daru...the new K10 million wharf trestle nears completion. It is funded by PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP), and built by contractor Curtain Brothers.

MMJV: Golpu feasibility study to start in July

By MALUM NALU
 

Morobe Mining Joint Ventures (MMJV) anticipates a feasibility study on the giant Golpu copper-gold project in Morobe province gold project to begin in the July quarter of this year, according to general manager-sustainability and external relations David Wissink.

He said this yesterday when asked to comment on what major plans the company has for this year.

“With Wafi- Golpu the focus is on discussions with stakeholders on the Golpu pre-feasibility study (PFS) which was finished last year,” Wissink told The National.

“After these consultations take place and a final nod from the joint venture partners (Newcrest and Harmony), we anticipate the project team being in a position to start the feasibility study in the July quarter of this year.”

Wissink said the plan called for 24 months for the feasibility study for just Golpu copper and gold, as Wafi was a separate ore body (gold cap) which was being studied at present.

Harmony and Newcrest last October announced a significant upgrade to the ore reserve estimate for the Golpu copper-gold deposit, following the completion of a technical PFS. 

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill (second from right)  listens to a geologist explains the reserves for the Wafi-Golpu project during a sire visit last October.-Picture courtesy of MMJV

The PFS supports an updated ore reserve estimate containing 12.4 million ounces of gold and 5.4 million tonnes of copper.

The study also confirms Golpu as a world‐class deposit with an expected mine life of more than 25 years.

Wissink said this year MMJV planned to create value for its shareholders and stakeholders.

Shareholders are Newcrest and Harmony, while stakeholders are landowners, Bulolo local level governments, Bulolo and Huon Gulf districts, and Morobe province. 

“We’ll do that by safely, and in an environmentally-sound manner, improving production and plant throughput at Hidden Valley, progressing Golpu to feasibility stage and continuing our exploration programme focusing on some exciting prospects in Huon Gulf and Bulolo districts.

“Another core part of the MMJV business is community engagement and on this side of the business,  we have extensive consultation programmes happening with the Wafi – Golpu project, an MOA (memorandum of agreement)  review for Hidden Valley at some point in the first half of the year, and of course the continuation of our community and regional development programs including the Watut River footbridge projects, community malaria programme in partnership with the Oil Search Health Foundation, education programmes and agriculture focusing on cocoa, coffee and fresh produce.”

Regarding, MMJV’s other project at Hidden Valley, Wissink said: “Hidden Valley is still ramping up production as it takes time to get all the moving parts of a mine (including people) working as efficiently as possible. 

“The environmental side of the operation is doing fine with the tailings storage facility performing as planned.”