Authority praises miner for maintaining standards

 MINERAL Resources Authority managing director Philip Samar has praised a mining company for maintaining the requirements and standards of the industry.

He visited Ramu NiCo’s Basamuk refinery in Madang and was impressed with the overall safety and operational standard practised.

“I am very much pleased with the progress been made so far amid the many challenges,” he said.

“Your company has made a tremendous improvement in raising the standards for your mining activities. I hope you will maintain and facilitate improvements to the standards and requirements of MRA.”

The visit was to understand the project’s operation and safety situation during the current downturn in world commodity prices, including nickel.

The Ramu NiCo management presented a project update to Samar, following the successful system maintenance from Nov 5 to 20.

President Wang Jicheng and refinery deputy general manager Bill Hill presented the current project procedures and standards for the refinery plant including the limestone quarry.

Samar was impressed to see Ramu NiCo engaging industry standard practitioners such as Orica PNG for the supervision and assessment of blasting activities at the Basamuk refinery limestone quarry. 

“This shows that you (Ramu NiCo) are serious about your safety standard in your mining activities,” Samar said.

Ramu NiCo president Wang Jicheng said the company was strictly complying with regulatory requirements of the government and other state regulating agencies.