PNGSDP wants to expand its mining operations Under the leadership of Australian Ross Garnaut the PNG Sustainable Development Program, owner of the environmentally destructive Ok Tedi mine, has recently invested in junior Australian mining company Highlands Pacific which has a stake in the Ramu nickel mine. Now Ok Tedi wants to buy into the huge proposed Frieda River mine -- a mine Xstrata wants to sell. PNGSDP is supposed to be investing in development projects for the people of PNG not expanding its destructive mining empire.... Ok Tedi wants PNG government to join it in Xstata's Frieda River Project Radio Australia Papua New Guinea's Ok Tedi Mining Ltd is keen to buy a stake in Xstata Copper's 5.3 billion US dollar Frieda River project. Ok Tedi Managing Director, Nigel Parker, says the company would like to move as soon as possible on the deal and will be talking with the PNG government in the near future. Pacific Beat's Jemima Garrett recently returned from a visit to Ok Tedi and she prepared this report. Presenter: Jemima Garrett Speaker: Nigel Parker, Managing Director, Ok Tedi Mining Limited. GARRETT: Ok Tedi is unique among PNG mining companies. Since the Canadian company Inmet sold out at the beginning of last year Ok Tedi has been 100%-owned for the benefit of Papua New Guineans. The PNG government has a 37% stake and the PNG Sustainable Development Program Limited the rest. But Ok Tedi is an old mine -- even if the mine extension plan currently