Landowners vow to work with Ramu NiCo

THE four principal clans from Kurumbukari in the Bundi local level government where the Ramu Nickel project mine operates have pledged to work with the Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd.
Clan leaders from Maure, Imuruva, Nokoboi, Pagazi, including the road and water easement under SML8 (special mining lease 8) met with KBK mine management led by general manager Sarimu Kanu last Saturday.
As part of ongoing information sharing and awareness on mine operations update, the KBK mine management briefed the landowners on the order from the Mineral Resources Authority to cease the HPAL (high pressure acid lseach) operation at the Basamuk refinery following a death there of a Chinese employee two weeks ago.
“Incidents and fatalities happen in other mines and we are unfortunately in this situation,” Kanu said.
“We are going through the normal process under the law and will take some time but need your understanding and cooperationEddie Utu, on behalf of the clans and the Kurumbukari Landowners Association, said the landowners did not wish to see the mine or the Ramu NiCo project suspend operation for a long period.
“We support the project and will disseminate the information to our local villagers on the incident.”   One Chinese expatriate and two Papua New Guinea national employees were conducting a HPAL preheating task utilising high pressure steam when the incident occurred.
MCC halted operations at the plant which remains on care nad maintenance.