Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) has reaffirmed its commitment to growing Papua New Guinea’s next generation of leaders and skilled professionals, celebrating the graduation of 24 trainees at its 38th Combined Graduation Ceremony in Tabubil.

The cohort — 14 from the Graduate Development Scheme (GDS) and 10 from the Preferred Area Development Program — reflects Ok Tedi’s belief that its people are central to business success and critical to delivering its Growth 2050 strategy.

GDS graduates completed training across Accounting, Environmental Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Geology, Engineering disciplines, and Mineral Processing. PAD graduates trained in Business Studies, Fire & Rescue, Metal Fabrication and Welding, and Plumbing.

Delivering the keynote address, Manager Mine Technical Services James Bu—a former GDS graduate whose career has taken him to Australia and the United States and now back to Ok Tedi —urged trainees to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Quoting former US President John F. Kennedy, he challenged them: “Ask not what Ok Tedi or Papua New Guinea can do for you, but what you can do for Ok Tedi and Papua New Guinea.”

His message reinforced Ok Tedi’s mission to strengthen PNG’s technical and leadership pipeline.

For over 40 years, Ok Tedi has been a cornerstone of national skills development:

• 689 GDS graduates (since 1988)
• 731 PAD graduates (since 1982)
• 1,161 Apprenticeship graduates (since 1984)
• K37 million invested in training and development in 2025

Many now lead within Ok Tedi, work across the PNG resources sector, or represent the country abroad — a testament to the enduring impact of the company’s training legacy.

As Ok Tedi advances toward Growth 2050, its commitment remains firm: developing Papua New Guineans who will lead the mine, uplift communities, and help drive the nation’s long-term prosperity.