About Us » Key Statistics
Key Statistics

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  • Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) is a large-scale, cost-competitive producer of copper concentrate in Papua New Guinea
  • The company operates mining, milling and shipping facilities in the country's Western Province.
  • The operation is located on a world-class, copper-gold ore body at Mount Fubilan in the Star Mountains of the Western Province, close to the border of West Papua.
  • Initial development of the mine took nearly eight years and cost US$1.4 billion.
  • Production of gold ore began in 1984. Copper concentrate production began in 1987.
  • Ownership of OTML was restructured when BHP Billiton divested its shareholding of 52 per cent early in 2002. These shares were transferred into a new company, the PNG Sustainable Development Program Limited. The State of PNG has a shareholding of 30 per cent (2.5 per cent is held on behalf of mine area landowners, 2.5 per cent on behalf of the Western Province government and 10 per cent on behalf of the people of Western Province). Canadian public company, Inmet Mining Corporation holds 18 per cent. However in February 2011, the exit of Inmet Mining Corporation saw its 18 per cent shareholding being bought by OTML. The shares were shared between PNGSDPL (63.4 per cent) and the State of PNG which now owns 36.6 per cent of OTML.
  • OTML’s principal markets are Japan, Asia and Europe.
  • The mine is an open-cut operation with an average of 160,000 tonnes mined each day.
  • The processing plant treats an average of 78,000 tonnes per day.
  • In 2010, the mine produced copper (contained) 159,821 tonnes, contained gold 15,131 kg and contained silver produced was 45,774 kg.
  • OTML directly employs about 2,000 people. 95 per cent of these employees are PNG citizens, and more than a third of these are from the Western Province.
  • In 2009, dividends paid were K933 million, which included K765 million for the benefit of PNG interests. The Fly River Provincial Government and mine area landowners each recieved K33.6 million while other compensation and benefits paid during the year, including land lease payments, trusts and Community Mine Continuation Agreements totalled K70 million.
  • Since 1982, the Ok Tedi mine has generated over K18 billion in wealth for the economy of Western Province and the rest of PNG.
  • During 2009, 25.4 million tonnes of waste rock (containing 1.46% Sulphur (S) and 20.3 million tonnes (0.82% S) were delivered to the upper Ok Tedi river system. As part of OTML’s ARD mitigation strategy, 8.5 million tonnes of limestone was mined for gradual addition to the waste rock stream to assist in buffering potential acid production in the future (i.e. through the oxidation of sulphides in the waste rock). The build-up of mine sediment in the lower Ok Tedi has caused a rise in the river bed, flooding and sediment deposition on the flood plain, leading to the death of forest vegetation ("dieback"). To date, 1,670 square kilometres has been affected by dieback while 27 per cent of this area (451 square kilometres) has undergone some form of recovery. Up to 2,400 square kilometres of forest may ultimately be affected. These forests are expected to take many years to recover after mine closure.
  • To reduce sediment-associated dieback in the river system, OTML in 2009 introduced a second dredge at Bige on the lower Ok Tedi. Currently, approximately 13 million tonnes of sand is dredged from the river each year. Approximately 10.7 million cubic metres of riverine sediments were dredged during 2009. 150 square kilometers of die-back recovery has been observed in the lower Ok Tedi (where a total of approximately 215 square kilometres has been impacted), largely as a result of the dredging operations.
  • Dividends paid to the Sustainable Development Program Limited are distributed in the form of sustainable development projects to the people of the Western Province and the wider PNG nation under arrangements between shareholders allowing BHP Billiton's exit from the project. Two-thirds of these dividends are being invested for future generations until after the mine closes.
  • Several hundred companies provide contract services to OTML. Over 80 per cent of the contracting companies are wholly PNG-owned.
  • Under the current mine plan, the mine will close around the end of 2013. However, the OTML management is in the process of undertaking a Feasibility Study to extend mine life as an alternative to closure, comprising a combination of underground and open pit mining. The Mine Life Extension (MLE) will produce an estimated total 90 million tonnes of ore containing almost 700,000 tonnes of copper and 2.3 million ounces of gold. MLE production rates will be about 60 per cent of current production rates. Refer to Mine Life Extension 2022 for more information.