Ramu Nickel

The presentation was done on Monday 6^th December 2021 and was witnessed by former KBK LOA Chairman, Tobby Bare, Matthew Denguo and Raibus Group CEO, Kenny Kerry. The representatives from the LOAs travelled to Port Moresby to present their position paper.

The position paper contains collective issues affecting the LOAs from Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk who are impacted by the giant nickel/cobalt mining operations in Madang province.

In a statement early this month, Highlands Pacific said the manager and majority partner in the Ramu joint venture, Metallurgical Corporation of China Limited (MCC), is investigating the expansion of the project which may cost in the order of US$1.5 billion.

The company said details of any proposed expansion will be announced when they are finalised.

This is expected to further enhance and strengthen Papua New Guinea’s position as one of the top twenty gold and copper producing countries in the world.

“The country is rich in minerals. It ranks in the top 20 world gold and copper producers and also produces silver, nickel and cobalt,” the report said.

“Mining in PNG dates back to 1888, with the modern mining industry developing in the mid-1960s.

“During the reporting period, eight mines were operating in Papua New Guinea, distributed over a number of provinces,”

Highlands Pacific Ltd in a notice to the Port Moresby Stock Exchange advised that a tragic incident took place at approximately 7.40am on Tuesday, April 12, when a Chinese worker was killed and two PNG national employees injured while working around high pressure vessels at the nickel processing plant.

Investigations into the cause of the incident are continuing and operations have ceased. Further information will be provided in due course.

Highlands holds an 8.56% interest in the Ramu nickel joint venture.

In a statement released today, the company says  that it strictly implements world standard “Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems” in compliance with relevant PNG mining standards and procedures.

The company said this following a call by the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru to conduct a full scale investigation into safety and operation standards following an alleged murder of one of Ramu NiCo’s Kurumbukari mine operators.

Reports reaching the Minister’s office claim there are no proper lighting, fencing and security to secure and demarcate the mine operations in pits from public access.

The Minister will be calling for a full scale investigation into the operations of the mine to determine if  the mine is operating within world standards and whether the Mining Inspector has been diligent in enforcing compliance with safety standards at that mine.

The Minister said he will not allow foreign companies to profit at the risk of citizens’ health and safety.