WESTERN PROVINCE COMES FIRST IN ‘LIGHTING UP THE WEST’ INITIATIVE

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) continues its commitment to light up Western province and its neighboring provinces through its electrification initiative.

Just recently, Ok Tedi reaffirmed that Western Province remains priority under its major electrification initiative, Lighting Up the West (LTW), delivered through Ok Tedi Power Limited (OTPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ok Tedi.

The program is designed to bring reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity to communities across Papua New Guinea’s western region which include predominantly Western Province and parts of East and West Sepik provinces.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kedi Ilimbit said Ok Tedi is 100% Papua New Guinea owned, and our people are driving this development.

“Lighting Up the West starts at home. Western Province is our host, and it is our priority,” he said, adding that work in other provinces is about planning for the future, not replacing Ok Tedi’s commitment to the people of Western Province.

“If you live in Western Province, LTW initiative is already underway.’’

Mr. Ilimbit said LTW is a multi-decade infrastructure program supporting:

Western Province’s life after mine
Long-term social licence with host communities
Economic diversification across the region
National Government electrification goals

The LTW initiative is being rolled out to Western Province and subsequently to West Sepik and East Sepik provinces, with support from the respective provinces.

Work is already underway in Western province under this initiative, with the construction and delivery, including:

Grid extensions in Kiunga and the highway corridor
The establishment of the Ningerum mini grid
Stand-alone solar power systems for priority Community Mine Continuation

Agreement (CMCA) Villages.

Recently, a team from Ok Tedi undertook a fact-finding mission to East Sepik Province, which is required under the new Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Retail (GTDR) licences. Fact finding visit to other grids within the three provinces are being planned and scheduled.