Ramu Nico project aiming to go global

The Ramu Nico Project in Papua New Guinea has provided its owners valuable experience to “go global” and develop overseas markets.

That ‘s according to President of Ramu Nico Management Ltd. Wang Jicheng.

Jiang said the project is the biggest investment by the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) in the Pacific and the largest overseas investment on mineral resources.

His comments were made during the Madang Investment Summit last month.

According to the Ramu Nico’s official website, Jiang said the success of Ramu NiCo was because the company took a new approach in developing and operating the project from Kurumbukari Mine to Basamuk Refinery.

“Today, we are delighted to see Ramu NiCo as an international project that has proudly established itself as a world-class joint venture integrating laterite mining, beneficiation and refining after having overcome various difficulties and challenges.” Said Jicheng.

The achievements, he added, did not come easy as Ramu NiCo was faced with many challenges such as technical, financial, management challenges, topography challenges, social security issues, and poor infrastructure.  

The project was also halted temporarily in early 2016 following the death of an expatriate and hospitalization two national staff.

And a long term shut down could have disrupted the project from restarting again.

“Today, we are operating above 95 percent design capacity and by the end of this year, we hope to achieve full 100 percent design capacity.” Jicheng said.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole