Ramu NiCo

Their presentation indicated that the women were adamant about making their 1% royalty benefit count, regardless of their level of education.

The CPLWA captures women from one of four impact zones or communities located along the corridor of the Ramu Nickel and Cobalt Project operated by Ramu NiCo, in Madang Province.

Deputy General Manager of Ramu NiCo’s Community Affairs Department Albert Tobe said members of CPLWA always sought advice and mentoring from Ramu NiCo’s Community Affairs Department.

The teams from Ramu NiCo consist of “Team Ramu NiCo” that represented the resource developer and teams from the Land Owner Companies of the Ramu Nickel Project; Raibus Limited, Ramu Transport Service and the Basamuk Landowner Association.

Ramu NiCo Community Affairs Deputy General Manager, Albert Tobe, said Ramu NiCo was happy to help in the cause that serves the health and wellbeing of the people of Madang.

The purchase was made from their portion of royalty payment for 2021 which was invested for a loan with the Peoples Micro Bank in Madang.

Association Vice Chair Catherine Muniea is now encouraging other associations in the 4-project corridor to make profitable use of their yearly royalty payments.

The Coastal Pipeline Women’s Association is one, including Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline and Basamuk of the Ramu Nickel and Cobalt Project for landowners.

The company recruited 18 locals to run and operate Volvo Articulated Dump Truck (ADT A4OE) and four for excavator trainings from the surrounding communities in the impacted zone.

This will also provide an employment opportunity for locals to work with Ramu NiCo.

Their training started early last month and will continue, until all the apprentices fully pass the different parts to the training and are familiarized with the functions of the vehicle.

Community Health Worker for Ileg aid post, Gabriel Poap, is grateful for this arrangement. The aid post’s recent supply came in last Tuesday.

The assistance is part of a MoA agreement which the company signed with the receiving parties and LLG, as part of Ramu NiCo’s corporate social responsibility within impact areas.

An awareness team from the nickel/cobalt mine developer, Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited and an officer from the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) shared this information during a DSTP awareness held at Kavailo primary school in ward seven of Karkar LLG in Sumkar district recently.

The community was told that the mine tailings from Ramu NiCo are being disposed at certain depth into the deep ocean floor through an ocean canyon or trench.

Basamuk Refinery Operations Registered Manager for Works, Bill Hill emphasized this during the company’s Annual Working Conference held recently.

Senior management teams attended the conference from Kurumbukari Mine, Basamuk Processing Plant, Madang Operations Base and Beijing via video conferencing.

Ramu NiCo President, Dong Gaofeng delivered the company’s Annual Work Report and the Vice President, Meng Deyong announced the Outstanding Employees of the Year 2021. Chairman, Gao Yongxue conveyed key spirits of the MCC Group and the summary speech.

The country’s first Nickel/Cobalt Mine developer continues to provide valuable assistance for the health care of the people of Madang province.

Madang Provincial Health Authority Chairman, Charles Kalana and the Chief Executive of, Fidelis Waipma received the cheque from MCC Chairman, Gao Yongxue.

Five specialized medical beds were also donated to complement the K100,000 cheque donation, specifically for treatment of COVID-19 patients at the Modilon General Hospital.

This is part of land reclamation to have native plants restored after mining activities.

According to the Company’s Health, Safety and Environment Department, a team is currently involved in the Progressive Rehabilitation that includes Landform Rehabilitation and Vegetation Regeneration.

In the August 21 report the HSE Department stated that, there were plans, inspections and discussions done to actively implement the Rehabilitation Plans that were already in place in accordance to the OEMP Progressive Rehabilitation Plan and the Environment Permit WD-L3 (115).

At the end of February, Ramu Nico recorded 7578.10 tons of Cobalt-Nickel Hydroxide (dry basis), equating to 3008.77 tons of metallic nickel.

The milestone is attributed to historical nickel recovery rate this year from 88.175 per cent in January to 89.09 per cent in February, signifying a technical bottleneck improvement with guaranteed production stabilization in the future.

This came at a time when world nickel prices stood at US$10,920 per ton and cobalt price at US$$51,000 per ton, according to London Metal Exchange.