The phase two of the upgrading and sealing of the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway and the rehabilitation and sealing of the Daru Town roads will now commence after Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) signed two project agreements recently. The agreements were signed on the 06th of July in Port Moresby between OTML and China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co. Limited for Phase Two of the Tabubil-Kiunga Road Sealing Project, and Leon Enterprise Limited for Daru Town Roads Rehabilitation Sealing and Upgrade. Phase one of the Tabubil-Kiunga Highway sealing from Kiunga to Kilometre (KM) 26 is well underway, and phase two will commence soon. Phase three will follow once further funding is available through the Government’s Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme (ITCS) program. OTML Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kedi Ilimbit, when speaking at the signing, said Western province will continue to see more changes before the mine closure. “Since 1997 OTML has spent over K600 million on ITCS projects in Western province and Telefomin District in Sandaun province. These include high impact priority projects in Health, Education, Law and Justice and Transport Infrastructure and Utilities,” said Mr. Ilimbit. He further added that OTML is also eyeing potential projects in Daru as it is the provincial capital where the provincial government headquarter is located. He extended a word of appreciation to the National Government for increasing the Tax Credit Scheme (TCS) ceiling from 0.75% to 2% as announced in the 2022 National Budget, adding that this will boost the completion of current projects and also provide an opportunity for OTML to commence new projects in its impact communities. Other major projects being considered include the construction of a new District Court House in Kiunga, the refurbishment of the Aiambak Secondary High School, a road link to Vanimo in West Sepik province and Hela province, the construction of Atemkit/Kavorabip road and the construction of the road from Alice Pit to the PNG-Indonesian border. OTML is committed to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits to its communities and the people of PNG.