Introduction
Community and environment are critically interlinked in every region, city, town, and village in the world. Ok Tedi is a profound example of this fact. The traditional landowners of this region have lived off the land for centuries, and the development of the mine has unalterably changed their way of life.
Despite the mine's impact on the river system and their subsistence livelihoods, the people of the Ok Tedi and Fly River have strongly endorsed its continued operation. This is in recognition of the broader economic and social benefits that the mine has generated.
For OTML, the challenge going forward is to minimise the mine's future impacts, whilst maximising its social and economic benefits.
The Community Mine Continuation Agreement Review was concluded in June 2007, achieving a revised agreement between OTML and 155 affected communities for an enhanced compensation and development package. Under the current agreement, the mine is to close in mid-2013.
OTML is working with the people in the affected areas to develop economic and social opportunities for the future.