Madang calls for review of Ramu nickel mine deal

THE Madang provincial government is calling for a review of the memorandum-of-agreement (MoA) of the Ramu nickel mine in Madang as soon as possible.
Governor Peter Yama said yesterday that the revised MoA had lapsed last November.
He said the MoA entailed negotiations between all the affected stakeholders and was important as it complemented the head agreement – the mining development contract.
Madang provincial government lawyer Ben Lomai said: “How can we regulate the relationship between the joint venture, the State, the Madang provincial government, the four local level governments within that area and the landowners?
“All the obligations, requirements and benefits are all encompassed in the MoA.
“If you remove the MoA, how can the Ramu joint venture operate by using the head agreement, which is the mining development contract?
“That’s why it’s important to have the MoA in place.”