Moving our concentrate from a mine site, some 2,000 metres above sea level in remote rainforest of Papua New Guinea, to the smelters of Asia and Europe is no easy task. 

The first step of the journey begins at the Processing Plant, where the treated concentrate is thickened to an optimal flow density before entering a steel pipeline. 

The pipeline takes our concentrate over 156km, from the Mount Fubilan plant to the Kiunga port on the banks of the Fly River.  

Embracing the mountainous location of the site, the pipeline uses gravity flow to move the concentrate most of the way; a pump station assists to move the concentrate the last 60km across the marshy planes near Kiunga.  

The Ok Tedi concentrate pipeline has been successfully transporting tailings from pit to port since the mid-80s, when the mine first began operations.  

While our investments in road infrastructure mean trucking is now a viable alternative, the pipeline continues to provide a reliable, economically efficient and low environmental impact way to move concentrate. 

Once at Kiunga, the concentrate is filtered to remove excess moisture and reduce shipping weight and then securely stored for the next available vessel.  

A dedicated ship loader transfers dried concentrate onto one of our fleet of specially chartered barges, where it begins the part of its journey upon the water. 

The loaded barges travel over 850km down Fly River, through dense untouched rainforest and marshlands until reaching the river’s mouth. 

They then travel a further 600 nautical miles across the Gulf of Papua, reaching the silo vessel anchored in Port Moresby’s Fairfax Harbour 3-4 days after departing Kiunga. 

Ok Tedi depends on adequate water levels within the Fly river and its tributaries to enable shipping movements along the river. 

The silo vessel can store up to 50,000 tonnes of concentrate, and with our barges operating seven days a week, providing consistent, uninterrupted supply for our smelter customers is assured. 

Commercial shipping routes can take our exported concentrate to customers across Asia in as little as 10 days. 

An operation as large and complex as Ok Tedi depends on a reliable flow of supplies. 

The barges that deliver our concentrate are multi-purpose vessels: after offloading in Port Moresby, they are reloaded with containerised freight and return upriver to Kiunga. 

Over 4000 twenty-foot containers are moved annually between our Brisbane logistics outpost, Motukea port in Port Moresby, and our port at Kiunga. 

More than half of all traffic on the Fly River is supporting the operations of Ok Tedi. 

We employ a Marine Coordinator to direct all vessels on the river and all commercial vessels must have radio equipment to enable swift contact with the Control Centre at Kiunga and ensure safe travel for all. 

Ok Tedi has also constructed and maintains a 140km compacted gravel roadway between the Mine, Tabubil township and Kiunga to ensure smooth supply to and from the mine.  

Each day, convoys of prime movers, tankers and trailers bring new shipments up the road from Kiunga to supply essential goods, including fresh food, fuel, office supplies and equipment for the mine.  

Our people are our most important asset.  

While most management and some locals stay permanently in Tabubil, most mine staff operate on a fly-in-fly-out schedule.  

The lush rainforest encompassing the Ok Tedi mine – and much of Papua New Guinea – can make it logistically challenging to get our team where they are needed. 

Ok Tedi charters multiple aircraft, including Dash 8s, a Twin Otter and helicopter, to execute a complex flight schedule of over 20 flights a day to get our people where they need to go. 

We also charter aircrafts to assist with freight movements when needed. 

Our airport at Tabubil connects our people and supply chain with over 10 locations each week, including Kiunga, Bige, Lae and Port Moresby.