The Papua New Guinea Government has approved OK Tedi Mining Limited's 150 milllion US dollars waste storage project.
The Post Courier newspaper reports that the project, set to be commissioned in 2008, was given the blessing by the Minister for Environ-ment and Conservation William Duma in December.
The OTML managing director, Keith Faulkner revealed this when announcing the company's 2005 annual report this week.
Mr Faulkner says one of the greatest challenges faced by the company was the safe storage of mine wastes, adding the impact of the mine over wastes into the Ok Tedi and Fly River systems was well documented.
He says studies had concluded that the safest storage site was at Bige where the company dredged its mine wastes.
Keith Faulkner says its working with the Departments of Environment and Conservation and Mining to ensure that the design, operation and the long term security of the storage is well understood, and to alleviate any remaining concerns that the community and regulators may have about this mine waste project.
