Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has thanked all stakeholders involved in the Ok Tedi Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) Extension Review Working Group Meeting, describing it as a critical moment to shape a new social contract that prioritises environmental sustainability, equity, and long-term benefits for the people of Western Province.
Addressing the conclusion of the multi-stakeholder consultation in Port Moresby today, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the presence and contributions of leaders and landowner representatives from all eight CMCA trust regions, Western Province Governor Hon. Taboi Awi Yoto, Members of Parliament, and state agencies.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the spirit in which this consultation has taken place,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Your submissions and engagements will help shape a new agreement that governs how we operate this mine into the future—an agreement that is people-focused, environmentally responsible, and economically sustainable.”
Recognising 40 Years of Contribution
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the Fly River people and the broader Western Province community, noting that 2025 marks 40 years since the first returns from Ok Tedi were received in 1985—just three years before the closure of the Bougainville Copper Mine in 1988.
“Ok Tedi stepped up at a critical moment in our history,” he said. “As the Bougainville mine wound down in 1988, Ok Tedi took on a greater national economic burden, and from 1985 to today, it has carried the country through many difficult years.”
Reforming the Past, Securing the Future
Prime Minister Marape reflected on past trust fund management, including his tenure as Finance Minister in 2012, when he halted unauthorised attempts to alter trust arrangements holding over K700 million for CMCA and non-CMCA beneficiaries.
“The resources that have come to Western Province must be accounted for,” he said. “We must ask ourselves: What have we done with what we already received? If we cannot manage the little, how will we manage more?”
He called for a coordinated and transparent development approach that aligns with the Western Province Development Plan, ensuring all agencies work under a unified blueprint.
A New Model of Mining Benefit Sharing
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the national Government’s commitment to a more inclusive and just benefit-sharing arrangement under the revised CMCA. He highlighted principles of equality and equity, urging that no one be left behind as Western Province and the nation move toward a new mining era.
“Let us construct a new model that respects the people, the provincial government, and the State—while also honouring God as the source of all resources,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He emphasised that the review must cover key areas including:
• Environmental management and rehabilitation, especially along the Fly River;
• Enhanced equity and royalty payments for CMCA and non-CMCA communities;
• Maximum local content and business participation for Western Province;
• Review of the tax credit scheme to better serve impacted communities;
• Transition planning to build an economy that outlives the mine.
Towards a Sustainable Legacy
As Ok Tedi plans to operate until 2050, the Prime Minister called for strategic investment in current and future generations alike. He urged that development planning must not only focus on sustaining the mine’s operation but also on building a diverse and independent provincial economy.
“We must not kill the golden goose that lays the eggs, but we must ensure it serves both present and future generations,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging all parties to work in unison to deliver a new CMCA agreement that secures the well-being of over 400,000 people in Western Province and sets a national example of responsible resource development.
“Let’s leave behind a better Ok Tedi, a better Western Province, and a better Papua New Guinea for our children.”