Mine communities to benefit from K135.8 million projects

Community mine continuation Agreement (CMCA) communities in Western province will benefit from five major projects worth K135.8 million starting this year, four of which are tied up with economic development.

Mining Minister Byron Chan last month approved last month approved the money for the five projects.

The funding was approved following a submission of the respective feasibility studies made by Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) last September following funding from the CMCA’s Western province people’s dividend trust fund (WPPDTF).

The secretary of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management is the custodian of the trust fund.

The five approved projects are Pampenai Road rehabilitation in North Fly district (K27.5 million), Ningerum Foot Bridge across Ok Tedi River in North Fly (K6.5m), Lake Murray-Aiambak Road in Middle Fly district (K58.8m), and Middle Fly and South Fly health plan (K43m).

Part of Lake Murray, Western province, where a K59.8m road will link up with Aiambak.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Pampenai Road is a 15km road linking six villages which have large stands of mature rubber trees.

There are 106 rubber farmers from these villages registered with North Fly Rubber Ltd.

Ningerum Foot Bridge will be a 162m bridge across the Ok Tedi River which once completed will provide a safe crossing for the people of Nupmo trust region into Ningerum.

Work on the Aiambak-Lake Murray Road will be the first step in what is expected to be the redevelopment of the entire road, formerly Barramundi Highway, linking Kiunga.

It is expected that the road will support expanding rubber developments, barramundi farming, and sustainable forestry projects taking place in the Middle Fly.

The Middle Fly and South Fly health plan is primarily targeted at funding the provision of desperately-needed primary health care to ensure general health services are affordable and consistent with community values while encouraging community participation.

“It features back-to-basic health care in line with the National Department of Health Plan 2011-2020,” said OTDF chief executive officer Ian Middleton.

“The health plan will be coordinated through the Western province health steering committee.

“OTDF is also committed to implementing the provincial education plan and a submission for funding will be made to the WPPDTF in 2013.”

K82 million spent on Ok Tedi projects

More than K82 million has to date been spent on community mine continuation agreement (CMCA) trust investment projects to date, according to Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) chief executive officer Ian Middleton.

He revealed these figures at the launching of mv Fly Warrior at Sturt Island in South Fly and Obo in Middle Fly at the weekend.

mv Fly Warrior, CMCA’s latest investment at a cost of K19 million, powers up the Fly River last Saturday.-Picture by MALUM NALU

The money has been spent on three vessels, two Twin Otter aircraft, and a new housing estate and OTDF office complex in Kiunga.

“The actual amount of money spent is K82, 775, 168.68, which not only includes the three vessels and the two Twin Otter aeroplanes, but also a new housing estate and the OTDF office complex both in Kiunga,” Middleton said.

“These investments will generate an 8% return per annum on each investment.

“These investments are all in the Western province and therefore visible to the communities that are here.”

The investments are:

·        Two Series 400 Twin Otters (K34, 708, 548.32);

·        Fly Hope (K6, 898, 442.71);

·        Fly Explorer (K5, 941, 842.68);

·        Fly Warrior (K18, 678, 496);

·        Kiunga office complex (K8 million); and

·        Kiunga housing estate (K8, 547, 838.97).

Approval of these trust investments is made following approval by the CMCA advisory committee, which is made up of 18 community nominated leaders from the 156 villages in the eight trust regions and mine villages; and the OTDF board which includes the four associate directors.

Middleton said the CMCA trust investment projects derived income from Western province people’s dividend trust fund (WPPDTF), PNG Sustainable Development Program (K21.5 million each year), and direct contribution by Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML).

He said relationships with the Fly River provincial government headed by Governor Ati Wobiro had generally been very good.

“The relationship with the provincial government is excellent,” Middleton said.

Wobiro: Western to be next ‘boom’ province

By MALUM NALU in Tabubil

Western province Governor Ati Wobiro says his province – disparaged as the “poorest” in PNG despite the richness of its natural resources – will makes its way up to be the “boom” province of Papua New Guinea.

He made the bold assertion during the launching of the K19 million Fly River vessel, mv Fly Warrior, at Obo in the Middle Fly on Sunday.

Wobiro (right) and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) chief executive officer Ian Middleton celebrate the arrival of Fly Warrior at Obo on Sunday.-Picture by MALUM NALU

Wobiro said the richness of Western was shown at last month’s mining and petroleum conference in Sydney, where he said focus was on Western’s mineral, gas, and oil resources.

“The three-day conference was focused on Western province,” he said.

“Great things are happening for Western province.

“This is a year of take-off for Western province.

“The development partners are our friends.

“They are here to help us.

“There will be a lot more celebrations to come.

“Western province will be the ‘boom’ of the whole country.

“We’re going to do a lot more.”

Wobiro speakng at Obo on Sunday.

Wobiro admitted that in the past, so much money- especially payoffs from the rich Ok Tedi mine – had been misused by provincial government and administration.

“In the past, a lot of government money was misused,” he said.

“There will be change.

“I will make sure that every toea is accounted for.”

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.