By Seraphina Aupong – EMTV New, Port Moresby
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said today he is awaiting a report by the Ok Tedi Mining Limited on the situation on the ground before measures will be put in place to assist with the low water levels in Kiunga town.
Kiunga residents say over the last week water has become a worrying issue in town as OTML continues with its plans to shut down and the dry weather continues.
OTML is the only provider of water supply in town and its temporary scale down puts a huge question mark on the water needs of the town.
The Prime Minister said he will be making decisions to the short term and long term solutions.
“We may have to fly in some supplies of water and other critical medicines and things that they will need immediately, but I will make those decisions as soon as I get a full briefing from the management and board of Ok Tedi,” O’Neill said.
While he said these will be short term solutions, Water PNG and possible gas exploration resevoirs in the province can provide long term solutions to the town’s water and electricity supplies.
“Gas is one way to power Kiunga and Ok Tedi,” he said.
In terms of water, he said “..we need to get Water PNG to try and find a water source elsewhere so that we can supply water to the township of Kiunga.”
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