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SYDNEY, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Legal moves are underway in Papua New Guinea to shut down the Ok Tedi copper mine later on Tuesday over environmental violations, according to media reports.
The mine, which produces about 150,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate a year, ships the material by a pipeline and barges more than 1,000 km (600 miles) to silo vessels in the Gulf of Papua, before it is loaded on to freighters and sent to smelters in Asia and Europe.
Papua New Guinea's National Court ordered the operating company Ok Tedi Mining to stop discharging waste into the Fly River - a move that would effectively shut down the mine, according to the Post Courier newspaper in the capital Port Moresby.
Company and government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The report said the mine was still operating as normal because it was yet to be served formal court orders that were made by on Friday.
Local radio reported Papua New Guinea's government, which took control of the mine last year and counts on its revenue to help support the national economy, was attempting to have the court order reversed.
Lawyers for the plaintiff told the Post Courier they were having difficulties in serving the orders but they would be served on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Paul O'Neill in September announced Papua New Guinea would take over full ownership of the mine after hastily enacting new laws in parliament.
The laws also quashed a 12-year-old decree providing former operator BHP Billiton
More than 325,000 tonnes of copper sits in London Metal Exchange warehouses, suggesting any immediate impact of Ok Tedi closing on metals markets could be muted. However, of that 61 percent is earmarked to leave warehouses, meaning much less is available for purchase
(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Ed Davies)
((jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373-1814)(Reuters Messaging: jim.regan.reuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: OKTEDI COPPER/