Concern PNGns won't get fair share from Ok Tedi
07 June 2013
ABC
THERE ARE CONCERNS Papua New Guineans may not get their fair share from the government takeover of the Ok Tedi mine.
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister Peter O'Neill has vowed to take over the Ok Tedi mine by assuming control of the PNG Sustainable Development Program, a charitable trust and Ok Tedi's biggest shareholder.
PNGSDP Chairman Sir Mekere Morauta has admitted that the PNG government is unlikely to pay the full price for the mine.
Prominent PNG blogger Martyn Namorong has told Radio Australia he believes this would amount to expropriation.
"My main concern relates to whether the PNG government is willing to pay for PNGSDP shares, which are estimated to be worth about $US 1.1 billion," Mr Namorong said.
"If the state is not willing to give the people of Western Province their $1.1 billion worth of shares, then the state is essentially stealing from the people of Western Province."
Mr Namorong is calling on the PNG government to pay the market price and to maintain PNGSDP's strong environmental record.
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