Papua New Guinea
3915, Radio Fly, Kiunga,
1200-1400 UTC, Mar 26. For about three days now have not heard any open carrier during
my usual checking. Finally off the air now, after seemingly running on very low
power for a long time?
http://www.oktedi.com/operations/mine-closure-planning discloses that Ok
Tedi Mining Ltd. (OTML) (owner and operator of Radio Fly) plans on closing down
their mining operation “around mid- to late-2013”. Here is another
interesting response received from OTML regarding my query sent to Nigel Parker
about the current status of R Fly:
"Dear Ron, good to hear from you again
and to know that you remain a faithful Radio Fly devotee.
Contrary to what you may have heard there
is a bright future for OTML with the mine to continue well into the late
2020's. You would also be pleased to know that OTML is actively engaged in
extending the coverage of Radio Fly from our current limited geographical
footprint to a comprehensive Western Province footprint by utilising mobile
phone towers to add repeaters.
The primary purpose is to enable the broadcast
of "School of the Air" programs as a way to bring education to the
remote communities of the Western Province. To get this going we are now
sourcing the funding for this extension. I would also like to point you to the
Ok Tedi Development Foundation website - www.otdf.com.pg
which will provide some insight to our part of the world for you.
Nigel Parker, Managing Director & Chief
Executive Officer, Ok Tedi Mining Limited". (Howard, Mar 27)
(DSWCI/DX Window 476)