German interest drawn into Ok Tedi enviro talks
Post-Courier (PNG), Copyright 2000
November 18, 2000
A GERMAN smeltering company has been forced to enter into discussions with environmental groups in Papua New Guinea to help restore failing environmental and social conditions at Ok Tedi.
Norddeutshhe Affinerie (NA) is a German copper smelter, which buys about 15 to 20 per cent of its copper concentrate from Ok Tedi.
Several officials from the company are on a four-day trip to the country, in particular Ok Tedi, to see the mine and its operations and the impact on the environment.
German environmental group “Save the Elbe” said in a statement that they forced the company to “take an initiative for the closure of Ok Tedi’’.
The proposal put forward to the company had asked that: “For the relief of social consequences of mines closer, the company makes a deposit of one per cent of its profit.’’
“NA’s board and the big shareholders rejected our proposal, but after intense discussion, the supervisory board offered to enter into a dialogue with environmental organisations, mine owners and the government of Papua New Guinea,” said Dr Klaus Schilder of the German Pacific Net-work. However, he said much work had been done in the months leading up to this visit.
Dr Schilder said following discussions, the company could now contribute some money towards the post-mine activities “to the relief of ecological and social damages to the people and vegetation in the area’’.
OTML officials welcomed the visit, and said although not involved in direct negotiations with the environment group, they were showing the visitors everything they wanted to see about the mine. General manager Roger Higgins said they were providing the visitors with information and a mine site tour.