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Sports |
Review terms of Ramu nickel mine
PNG has some of the biggest mining
sites like Porgera, Ok Tedi and Lihir when compared with rest of
the world.
These mines put security, safety, welfare, health and hygiene as a
priority for their employees.
They have set the standards for other new developers to follow.
That is why most young aspiring Papua New Guineans always dream of
working at the mines.
The highest death rate around the world associated with mine sites
is in China.
Reports have been revealed that more than 1,400 people had been
killed in China last year.
This figure is the highest in the world, implying that the
livelihood (health and hygiene, safety and security) of human
beings is usually taken for granted because of greed.
Revelations by private consultant Kunadi Victor from his research
on the discharge of tailings into the seafloor of Basamuk Bay by
the Ramu nickel mine are also surprising.
How was all the cost benefit analysis done and is the project
really environmentally and socially viable?
Yes, we are well aware of the project bringing economic benefits
but how much is the opportunity cost (environmentally) that is
going to be incurred in the long term?
The economic viability is also something to be questioned when the
company is exempted from tax for 10 years.
The incoming government after this year’s general election should
review the terms as a matter of priority.
Papua New Guineans are no longer living in the neo-colonial
period. We know what is right and wrong.
Let us not be spectators on our own land while foreigners exploit
our resources.
It is obvious that Government officials who handled the Ramu
nickel project deal did not put the people’s interest first.
Who knows what was in their bags after their frequent trips from
China?
Kings Yaro
Concerned PNGan
 
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