THIRTEEN top students from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology have started their industrial training with Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) recently, according to the company.
According to a statement from OTML, four female and nine male students would be given the opportunity to work in different areas of the company’s operations over the next three months.
Managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) Musje Werror, and general manager for people and capability Mark Stone welcomed the students during their induction on Jan 10.
Werror shared some of his experiences about his journey since joining company’s graduate development scheme (GDS) in 1987 until his eventual appointment as MD and CEO in 2020.
“A career in the mining industry is a rewarding one if you would like to pursue that after you graduate, but it comes with a lot of sacrifices in which you are required to work long hours and spend most times away from your families,” he said.
“We have some of the best and well-experienced people in the fields of engineering, mining and processing and it is my encouragement to you all to learn as much as you can whilst you are here at Ok Tedi.”
Acting training and development manager Morris Nandun said the trainees had been placed in various departments to undergo the practical component of their disciplines.
“Four trainees from the mineral processing discipline are with the processing operations department while another from the applied physics – instruments and electronics discipline is with the processing reliability department,” he said.
“Of the five trainees from the mining engineering discipline, two are with the mine technical services department and three are with mining operations.
“The remaining three trainees from the mechanical engineering discipline are placed with the roads and engineering department and the major projects department.”
Nandun said the trainees would be given an opportunity to join the GDS programme if they scored a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher after completing their final year at university.
Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the industrial training programme was suspended indefinitely until this year.
With mine life extended to 2032 and a potential to extend it even further, OTML would continue to offer exciting career opportunities to PNG’s top talent coming through the country’s universities and technical colleges.
Statement / Pacific Mining Watch
Next : Papua New Guinea set to sign US$9 billion P’nyang Gas deal