Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) is continuing to improve the lives of Papua New Guineans through its Infrastructure Tax Credit (ITCS) Scheme.
Working in partnership with the government, these projects will now enable people to have easy and fast access to basic goods and services that have been lacking.
Speaking at the official opening of the Tabubil Telefomin road, Ok Tedi Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kedi Ilimbit said Ok Tedi is 100% PNG Owned company and will continue to deliver infrastructure development to Papua New Guinea in the coming years.
Prime MinisterJames Marape officially attended the opening and also launched the Telefomin – Oksapmin – Kopiago road construction with a groundbreaking ceremony and unveiled the Telefomin town masterplan.
The 75-kilometer Tabubil-Telefomin road was delivered at a cost of K267 million under the Government’s Connect PNG program in partnership with Ok Tedi through its Tax Credit Scheme serves as a critical link connecting Telefomin to Tabubil. Telefomin will be further linked to other parts of the country with more upcoming planned road developments in the area, including the Telefomin to Hela Road and Telefomin to Vanimo roads.
Mr Ilimbit said this road is expected to transform the lives of the locals, providing them with better access to cheaper goods and services that foster social and economic growth.
“I used to walk days to attend school here at the Telefomin Secondary School years ago, today kids from our nearby Min communities can travel to school easily by road, the people will have access to markets, there will be further basic services improvements including education and health and generally an improved standard of living for the Min people,” Mr Ilimbit said.
“And that is a dream come true for all the locals here and a very momentous occasion in our history,” he said.
Mr Ilimbit acknowledged everyone who contributed to the delivery of this infrastructure especially the contractors who led the construction of this road and commended the government for its support towards TCS funded projects in the country.
“Although Ok Tedi is commended for being the major player in this infrastructure development, without government support, Ok Tedi wouldn’t have been able to deliver the project anyway, so on behalf of the local Min people – thankyou to the current Member for Telefomin and Works Minister Honorable Solan Mirism and the Honorable Prime Minister James Marape and the PNG Government for this milestone infrastructure delivery,” he said.
Since 1997 Ok Tedi has contributed PGK948.7 million towards development in Western province and Telefomin (West Sepik) in various sectors such as health, education, law and justice, and transport.
Ok Tedi’s support to projects in Western Province and Telefomin District is delivered through its Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme program, Ok Tedi Development Foundation and in partnership with various development partners.
Ok Tedi is 100% PNG owned and is proud to have grown with the nation while remaining committed to supporting and contributing to nation-building in the next 50 years.