Landowner executives against call to shut down mine

THE executives of landowner companies in the Ramu NiCo Project have opposed social media speculations and calls by the Madang provincial government and certain Madang MPs to shut down the mine.
The Lanco executives and landowner association from four landowner areas came out strongly at a press conference yesterday to oppose the call by the Madang Governor Peter Yama to shut down the mine following a slurry overflow incident last month.
Coastal Pipeline landowner chairman and Raibus Group of Companies head Steven Saud said the slurry overflow incident at Basamuk was a technical issue which had been addressed by relevant government departments, which were the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa).
He said there were investigations underway and once the report was released the stakeholders would know the status of the cause and effects of the spillage.
Saud said the Ramu nickel mine had brought tangible benefits to the four impacted landowner areas of Kurumbukari, Inland Pipeline (Maigari), Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk in terms of business spin-off activities, employment opportunities, both direct and indirect, and infrastructure development.
Saud said last year Ramu NiCo (MCC) packaged a K1.2 millon community infrastructure development fund for the four landowner areas.