Ramu NiCo disputes findings from Swiss scientist

THE Ramu NiCo project has disputed the findings of a Switzerland-based consultant into its waste disposal method and the alleged environmental impact at its Basamuk refinery.
Ramu NiCo management said Swiss scientist Dr Alex Mojon, who was engaged by the Madang provincial government, was not authorised by Cepa (Conservation Environment and Protection Authority), the regulated state body mandated to investigate the Basamuk slurry spill that occurred on Aug 24.
“We will only accept the officially sanctioned independent investigation report from Conservation Environment and Protection Authority, which we believe is ready and the Minister concerned will release soon,” the company said.
“We doubt whether the scientific report and Madang provincial governments’ engagement are independent in nature. Of course it is only independent for them but not for official purposes and we out rightly ignore the findings.”
Mojon carried out the investigations on the sea waters at Basamuk Bay before and after the spill.
The report was presented in Port Moresby on Wednesday.
The company said the release of Mojon’s report was in direct defiance of an official government-sanctioned report whose findings were yet to be presented.
“Only after Cepa, through the Environment Minister, presents its findings can anyone including the Madang government and challenge its findings and not them comeing out prematurely like this.”