Clans get jobs for K460mil in 11yrs

LANDOWNERS from Ramu Nickel/Cobalt Project in Madang have received more than K463.4 million worth of business contracts from the Ramu NiCo management (MCC) Ltd over the past 11 years, according to the company’s 2019 Business Development Update Report.
The company said out of that amount, K63.5 million in contracts were awarded for the transportation of chromite from KBK Mine to Lae from 2016 to June 2019 and a K40.6 million contract was awarded for fuel transportation since 2007.
A total of K1.1 billion alone was spent on local procurements of goods and services since 2007.
“From the total of more than K1.7 billion, K1.1 billion was spent on local procurement since 2007 till June 2019, landowner security firm Raibus Security Services Ltd received more than K10.4 million worth of contracts and another landowner company, NCS – Raibus received more than K244.6 million in contracts to provide meals for mine workers,” the report said.
“Other landowner unifying umbrella companies including Kurumbukari Ltd Kurumbukari landowners, Maigari Ltd for inland pipeline landowners, Wass Matau Ltd for Coastal Pipeline landowners, Basamuk Enterprises for Basamuk landowners, Raibus Engineering and other area contractors received around K56.7 million worth of contracts from 2007 to June 2019.
“In fuel transportation since 2007 till June 2019, we spent well over K40.6 million,” Ramu NiCo management said.
The company said sub-contractors outside the project impacted areas were engaged and paid millions of kina to provide goods and services that the project landowners did not have the capacity to provide.
“Our contractors and landowner companies employ a total of 930 nationals.
“Then you are looking at vegetable suppliers from the Highlands region, hire car owners, labour hires, PMV operators to name the few. The benefits filter down to many individuals and their families.”
The Ramu NiCo Business Development Plans aims to optimise landowner participation in spin-off businesses generated by the Ramu Nickel project, stimulate capacity of landowner companies to operate sustainable business ventures outside the Ramu Nickel project and create market for local suppliers of agriculture, fisheries and tourism products or their business activities.
“We also aim to ensure equitable distribution of benefits from landowner businesses to their shareholders, facilitate a K2 million infrastructure project under the Social Economic Development Plan (SEDP) and provide Community Assistance Scheme through subsidies in education, health and a micro-credit scheme.”