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What can the people of the Ok Tedi and
Fly Rivers expect
The mine is due to close in 2010. The Papua
New Guinea Sustainable Development Pro-
gramCompany currently receives dividends
of millions of dollars. Two thirds of this rev-
enue is invested in a long-term fund (that
will enable the company to contribute for at
least four decades after the mine closes).
The remaining third is spent on current de-
velopment projects in the Western Province
(home of the mine) and other areas in PNG.
It is two early to tell whether the fund will be
able to successfully address the continuing
environmental damage or achieve signifi-
cant sustainable development and job cre-
ation. If not, the legacy of 30 years of mining
in the clouds may be lasting environmental
damage and cultural upheaval.
18
19
FLY RIVER BASIN
Western
Southern Highlands
Western
Highlands
Enga
East Sepik
West Sepik
Madang
Lake Murray
Gulf of Papua
Ok Tedi Mine
Gulf
PA P U A
N EW G U I N E A
I N D O N E S I A
Gold production
0
100 000
200 000
300 000
400 000
500 000
600 000
700 000
Ounces
Source: MMSD, 2002
1985
1990
1995 1998
Clockwise from top left:
Massive aggrada-
tion of the Ok Tedi River downstream of
Tabubil; three views of the forest dieback
adjacent to the river; waste rock being un-
loaded at an erodable dump.
Heavy rainfall
washes even coarse material downstream
(photos courtesy of Ok Tedi Mining Limited).