Lawsuit could delay nickel project: HPL

HIGHLANDS Pacific Ltd (HPL) has expressed concern that the current court injunction taken by landowners against the Ramu nickel project over possible environmental damage from deep-sea tailing placement system would delay the project.
HPL chairman Ken MacDonald told The National last week during its annual general meeting: “The injunction proceeding is a setback which has temporarily prevented construction of deep-sea tailing placement system.
“Although our Chinese partner Metallurgical Corp and PNG government, who are parties to this action, continue to express confidence that these proceedings would not damage the project and would not cause material delay in commissioning, it would only be possible until injunctions are actually removed … there is still risk that we cannot entirely rule out.”
MacDonald said HPL was not a party to the court proceedings.
But he praised the  government for its clear expression of commitment.