The developer of Ramu nickel and cobalt project in Madang province, Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd has presented a cheque of five hundred thousand kina (K500,000) to Ramu Development Foundation on Saturday Oct 24 in Madang.
The funding is fulfilling the Ramu NiCo Project Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as a one-off seed capital to establish, operate and manage the foundation.
Madang Provincial Government established the foundation for the purpose of implementing projects funded by Madang Provincial Government and from the benefits derived from the mine such and the Special Support Grant (SSG) and Tax Credit Scheme (TCS).
When presenting the cheque on behalf of Ramu NiCo, Vice President, Mr. Wang Baowen said Ramu NiCo values a close working relationship with the Madang Provincial Government, important government agencies and other stakeholders for the common benefit of the province and the project.
Mr. Wang said with the support of the provincial government and other stakeholders, the project achieved 90% production capacity to date and hoped to achieve 100% capacity soon with the continued support from the stakeholders.
However, he acknowledged that the production achievements had come with a price, including the economic situation, poor infrastructures and numerous social uncertainties.
“There have been huge developments taking place in Madang, and PNG but there is a need for the upgrading of major infrastructures for the benefit of the majority. We hope the foundation can deliver some of these services,” Mr. Wang said.
Deputy General Manager of Community Affairs, Mr. Yuan Zhi said there is a special need for the government services to be delivered to community level in the Ramu NiCo Project impacted districts of Usino-Bundi and Rai Coast and the newly established foundation will be the driving vehicle.
“Please be reminded that there are 13 projects listed in the Ramu NiCo MOA in the construction period that were not touched yet by the Provincial Government,” Mr. Yuan said.
Several other infrastructure programs, education programs, economic development programs, community development and sustainable development programs under the MOA have not been implemented by Madang Provincial Government and the new foundation will now deliver these overdue developments.
Madang Provincial Administrator, Mr. Daniel Aloi received the cheque on behalf of the foundation and thanked Ramu NiCo for being a major strategic development and economic driver in Madang.
He said the government had acknowledged most of the positive contributions by Ramu NiCo since its inception in 2005 and asked for its continuity as the Provincial Government will now work closely with the project.
Mr. Aloi said the Provincial Government over the years may not have been seen to work closely with Ramu NiCo but the establishment of Ramu Development Foundation is the opportunity where Ramu NiCo and the Madang Provincial Government can now work together.
“I have faith in the Ramu Development Foundation because there will not be a bureaucracy interference,” Mr. Alois said.
Photo: Vice President, Mr. Wang Baowen presents the cheque to Ramu Dev. Foundation and received by Madang Provincial Administrator, Mr. Daniel Aloi. Ivan Mullul of Ramu NiCo and Dr. Boga Figa of the Foundation look on.