Mine maintenance progressing

RAMU NiCo Management (MCC) has completed the first overhaul maintenance for this year at its Krumbukari mine and Basamuk refinery with strict adherence to safety, quality and efficiency protocols and requirements.
Providing an update for the US$2.1 billion (K7.2bil) project in Madang, a spokesman told The National that the maintenance overhaul would further strengthen the foundation for high quality development this year.
“Preparations for the overhaul, including shipment materials, were done several months in advance to ensure that spare parts arrived on time thus laying the foundation for the smooth progress of the overhaul,” he said.
The spokesman said the relevant departments pre-made pipe fittings, repaired propeller blades, erected scaffolding and conducted various operational risk assessments to ensure the safe and efficient maintenance.
“At the same time, in view of the continuous operation of the pump pool at the water source at the Kurumbukari mine which for many years has caused serious sediment deposition and the weakening of water supply, a specialised team was temporarily established to overcome the difficulties of time constraints, heavy tasks, difficult conditions, and narrow space to carry out dredging of water sources using shift work at all hours of the day and night, to achieve stable operations of pumping station equipment thus improving the water extraction efficiency and saving on maintenance costs.” He said that during the overhaul process, the maintenance workers worked together to overcome the adverse effects of overdue work onsite during the special period of the pandemic, the inability of vendors to support onsite, and the poor onsite maintenance conditions.
“In response to this overhaul, the company further strengthened the implementation of safety responsibilities, enhanced onsite supervision, and required management personnel to work into the front line, take the lead in the coordination of maintenance and safety supervision, and the relevant plants and personnel strictly abide by the standard operation procedures and safety work procedures, conscientiously conduct risk assessments for high-risk works such as confined space tasks, high-altitude tasks, high-temperature and high-pressure environments, and hoisting operations, the spokesperson said.
“During the overhaul, the company held daily summary meetings to track the progress of the overhaul, checked new projects, discussed and analysed technical issues, and eliminated potential safety hazards in a timely manner, effectively achieving the goal of zero accidents and zero work injuries during the overhaul.
“For a long time, the Ramu NiCo project has continuously strengthened the quality of safe production and helped the sustainable development of the company.”
The Ramu mine and Basamuk refinery are a joint venture between Highlands Pacific (8.56 per cent), the Government and landowners (6.44 per cent) and Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) Ramu NiCo Ltd (85 per cent).