What kind of issues problems did the Ok Tedi mine encounter during construction and operation?

What kind of issues problems did the Ok Tedi mine encounter during construction and operation?

Environmental Issues The Ok Tedi mine originally planned to construct both a tailings dam and a waste rock dump to retain much of the mine derived waste during its mine life. However, in 1984, during construction of the foundation for the tailings dam at Ok Ma, a landslide inundated the area.

Why did BHP leave Ok Tedi?

BHP agreed to give away its ownership of the mine in return for a guarantee that it would not be sued for environmental damage. BHP did not want to gift its shares in Ok Tedi to the PNG Government because of well-established concerns about corruption and limited capacity within the PNG public sector.

What did BHP do with its 52% shareholding in Ok Tedi?

BHP Billiton today completed its withdrawal from the Ok Tedi copper mine in Papua New Guinea with the transfer of its 52 per cent equity stake to PNG Sustainable Development Program Limited (Program Company), a development fund that will operate for the benefit of the Papua New Guinean people.

Who owns Ok Tedi mine now?

Ownership. OTML is a 100 percent Papua New Guinea (PNG) owned entity with 67 percent direct shareholding by the Independent State of PNG and the people of Western Province holding a 33 percent interest. 100% of the benefits from its operations are distributed to the people of Western Province and the State.

What is the main problem of inland mines like Ok Tedi on the river environment?

The massive amount of mine-derived waste dumped into the river exceeded its carrying capacity. This dumping resulted in the river bed being raised by 10 m, causing a relatively deep and slow river to become shallower and develop rapids, thereby disrupting indigenous transportation routes.

What is the problem at Ok Tedi mine?

Up to 30,000 people living to the south of the mining site along the Ok Tedi and Fly River systems have been adversely affected by the environmental impact of the mine. For example, locals have reported that they are no longer able to sell their fish and garden produce because of the polluting effects of the mine.

Why can’t PNG government close Ok Tedi mine for environmental reasons?

How not to operate a mine. Initially, the Ok Tedi mine did not benefit from immunity regarding its environmental practices. By request of the government, the mine was only to operate if a tailings dam was built to filter out much of the waste dumped in the river.

What happened to the Ok Tedi mine?

As part of the settlement, a (limited) dredging operation was put in place and efforts were made to rehabilitate the site around the mine. However the mine is still in operation and waste continues to flow into the river system. BHP was granted legal indemnity from future mine related damages.

Why can’t the PNG government close the Ok Tedi mine for environmental reasons?

Initially, the Ok Tedi mine did not benefit from immunity regarding its environmental practices. By request of the government, the mine was only to operate if a tailings dam was built to filter out much of the waste dumped in the river.

Is Ok Tedi mine still operating?

The Ok Tedi mine is an open-cut copper, gold and silver mine located at Mt. Fubilan in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. In addition, about 60 thousand tonnes of ore is mined each day and delivered to the mill for processing. The mine and mill operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

What is the problem with Ok Tedi mine?

Who owns the largest gold mine in Papua New Guinea?

Barrick Gold Corporation and Zijin Mining Group each own 50% of Barrick (Niugini) Ltd. Porgera Gold Mine is the second largest mine in Papua New Guinea and is regarded as one of the world’s top ten producing gold mines….Porgera Gold Mine.

What was the Ok Tedi environmental disaster?

The Ok Tedi environmental disaster caused severe harm to the environment along 1,000 km (620 mi) of the Ok Tedi River and the Fly River in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea between around 1984 and 2013. The lives of 50,000 people have been disrupted.

How much mine waste is in the Ok Tedi?

In 1999, BHP reported that 90 million tons of mine waste was annually discharged into the river for more than ten years and destroyed downstream villages, agriculture and fisheries. Mine wastes were deposited along 1,000 km (620 mi) of the Ok Tedi and the Fly River below its confluence with the Ok Tedi, and over an area of 100 km 2 (39 sq mi).

What is Ok Tedi?

Since the late 1980s, Ok Tedi has symbolised the David and Goliath struggle between major multinational miners, remote developing communities and the environment.

What happened to the Tedi River?

During the 1980s and 1990s, the mine dumped an estimated 80,000 tonnes of limestone sludge, containing chemicals and minerals, into the upper Tedi River. A 1984 effort to build a tailings dam failed, with the company arguing that a dam was impossible in a geologically unstable terrain with heavy rainfall.