Papua New Guinea-based Ok Tedi Mining has halted operations in order to protect its workforce, communities and operation as COVID-19 grips the country.

The company said that in light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases at the mine site and in Papua New Guinea, it would suspend operations for 14 days as of Friday, March 19, to stop further transmission of the virus within its operations.

Loss in revenue during the suspension is expected to be in the order of PGK210 million, the equivalent of about $AU77 million.

The company had already suspended international charter flights into Australia after COVID-19 cases were detected in Queensland from international travellers in hotel quarantine.

Ok Tedi Mining directly employs more than 1800 employees, of which less than 4 per cent are expatriates.

The company said it was reviewing options following the Australian Government’s announcement to temporarily stop the fly-in and fly-out of mine employees living in Australia.

“We do not anticipate significant disruption to our operations as a result of the Australian Government’s announcement, however we are looking at alternative ways to repatriate several of our expatriate employees during the suspension of operations,” a spokesman said.

The mine stoppage coincides with the PNG Government’s National Isolation Strategy, to be rolled out from Monday (March 22).

Ok Tedi Mining said a planned return to normal operations would be determined by the effectiveness of the control measures and when the spread of the virus had been contained.

“The decision to suspend operations signifies OTML’s commitment to take all reasonably practical measures to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of its employees, families, contractors and host communities and to enable the resumption of operations in a safe, economical and timely manner for the benefit of all stakeholders,” the company spokesman said.

“Key measures the company will be implementing during the suspension include repatriating non-essential personnel to their home provinces and implementing a mass testing program within its workforce.

“During the suspension of operations, there will be some employees who will be required to attend to normal work to maintain essential services or for care and maintenance.”