Parties to Ramu nickel project to sign new deal

 A NEW agreement will be signed later this month between parties to the Ramu Nickel project following the review on royalties, support grants and infrastructure development.

The Mineral resources Authority (MRA) says the parties, which included the state, landowners, the Madang provincial government (MPG) and Ramu NiCo Ltd who met in Madang last week, have signed a draft memorandum of agreement (MoA).

Acting managing director Philip Samar said he was elated that the parties could compromise on the various issues although they had to sacrifice on some other things.

He lauded the landowner associations for their understanding, respect and commitment to the process.

The issues in the draft MoA included royalties, special support grants and infrastructure development.

“The endorsement of the draft MoA by the parties signifies that they have agreed to the various amendments they made to the initial MoA document they signed in 2000. 

The draft document will be presented to the State Solicitor’s Office for legal clearance and advice before it is submitted to the National Executive Council (NEC) for endorsement and implementation of the various undertakings by the parties. 

The landowner associations are Kurumbukari, Maigari Inland Pipeline, Coastal Pipeline and Basamuk.

Speaking on behalf of the four Coastal pipeline landowners association chairman Steven Saud said: “Landowners were happy that the review meeting was a success.” 

He said they have discussed the issues they wanted to be addressed, including equity participation and royalties.