Key Historical Dates
1963
Government patrol makes first contact with the Min people of the Star Mountains. A government patrol leader notices signs of copper mineralisation near the present mine site and collects samples for analysis.
1968
Mt Fubilan copper-gold deposit discovered.
1969
Geologists from the Kennecott Copper Corporation issue a prospecting authority over the area. Within a year, the company confirms that a deposit exists at Mt Fubilan.
1969-1971
Diamond-drilling program to establish ore reserves is carried out. Results are favourable. Kennecott and the PNG Government, however, cannot reach agreement about how to develop a mining project.
1975
Kennecott withdraws from the project.
1976
Australian company, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), enters into negotiations with the PNG Government. In the same year, the government passes the Mining (Ok Tedi Agreement) Act and an international consortium is formed to assess the feasibility of developing a gold and copper mining operation.
1979
A ten-volume feasibility study is prepared and presented to the PNG Government.
1980
February - the national government approves the consortium's proposals for the project and exercises its option to take up a 20 per cent shareholding.
June - Mining (Ok Tedi Supplemental Agreement) Act passed.
1981
27 February Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) incorporated to develop and operate the project.
Mining lease is granted to Ok Tedi Mining Limited.
April - construction begins and proves to be a major engineering feat, given the remote location of the site and the unstable terrain.
The development program takes almost eight years and costs US$1.4 billion.
1984
Massive landslides destroy the foundations of the Ok Ma tailings dam during construction. Mine tailings can no longer be stored.
Gold production begins, with an interim tailings system.
1987
Copper production begins.
Sixth Supplemental Agreement environmental studies begin looking at the effects of sediment on waters and fish of the Fly River.
1989
Government sets maximum sediment level that the mine can place in the Fly River. OTML required to monitor sediment effects.
1991
First dividend paid.
1993
OTML ownership restructure announced. BHP's shareholding moves from 30 per cent to 60 per cent, State of Papua New Guinea 20 per cent, and Inmet Mining Corporation 20 per cent.
1994
Ten years of production.
Ok Tedi/Fly River landowners sue OTML and BHP in the Victorian Supreme Court for environmental damages.
1995
Restated Eighth Supplemental Agreement sets up general compensation scheme.
First company tax paid.
1996
First general compensation payments made.
Mine Waste Management Project (MWMP) established to investigate options for mitigating environmental impacts.
Heads of Agreement for special benefits signed between OTML, the State and the lower Ok Tedi communities.
Litigation settled out-of-court for K150 million in payments to landowners over the remaining life of the mine, and commitment to the implementation of a feasible tailings option which is approved by the State.
1997
Government approves dredging trial in the lower Ok Tedi area.
El Niño drought forces mill shutdown in August. About 65 per cent of staff go on dry weather leave.
1998
Operations resume in March.
The dredging trial begins following return of the rains and higher river levels.
State acquires additional ten per cent shareholding to be held for the benefit of the people of the Western Province. Eight percent is contributed by BHP and two percent by Inmet. Payment by the State is to be effected from future dividends on the ten per cent acquired. State agrees to hold 2.5 per cent of its total equity (now 30 per cent) for the benefit of the mine area landowners and 12.5 per cent for the benefit of the people of the Western Province.
1999
Results of Mine Waste Management Project (MWMP) Risk Assessment published in August.
State directs continuation of a dredging trial.
2000
State asks World Bank to review the findings of the Mine Waste Management Project.
Writs filed in the Victorian Supreme Court claiming damages and breach of contract on 1996 settlement agreement.
BHP indicates to shareholders it intends to exit the Ok Tedi mine.
PNG government announces community consultation process over the future of the mine given its environmental impacts.
2001
Community consultation process moves to consent being given for the mine to continue, in the form of Community Mine Continuation Agreements (CMCAs) with landowners throughout those parts of the Western Province affected by the mining operations.
Mining (Ok Tedi Mine Continuation (Ninth Supplemental) Agreement) Act 2001 passed by the PNG Parliament, setting out the basis for mine continuation and BHP's withdrawal.
OTML's Environmental Regime adopted by the PNG State as a part of the Ninth Supplemental Agreement.
2002
BHP completes its withdrawal from the business, with equity transferred to PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd.
Constitutional references filed in the PNG courts opposing BHP Billiton's departure from the project and the constitutionality of the Ninth Supplemental Agreement.
The State approves the employment of a dredge, through to the end of mining, in the lower Ok Tedi region in conjunction with social and environmental monitoring programs.
2004
Twenty years of production.
All claims, including the PNG constitutional reference, are withdrawn by the plaintiffs in both Australian and PNG courts.
2005
OTML environmental monitoring detects chemical impacts from increasing copper in the river system.
OTML informs PNG Government and affected communities of new environmental data, and begins to investigate options for mitigating predicted ARD from future sulphur in tailings.
2006
OTML celebrates 25 years of the Ok Tedi Project.
The State approves the Mine Waste Tailings Project, whereby sulphur content in tailings will be significantly reduced with the safe storage of the resultant pyrite concentrate at Bige.
OTML achieves record before-tax profit of K2.7 billion.
2007
CMCA review produces revised agreement between OTML and 145 villages, and extends mine life to 2013.
OTML achieves record before-tax profit of K2.9 billion.