Royalties helping local communities

A LANDOWNER representative from the Ramu nickel mine says K108 million in royalties received from the developer since 2018 has helped local communities.
Memeume 1 principal landowner and Maigari inland pipeline landowner association chairman Jacob Winis said the royalty payments had contributed to improving their lives by enabling access to basic services.
“The money was paid to 190 bank accounts of clans within the project’s four impact areas,” he said.
“It has helped us in setting up small businesses, projects, supporting us with school fees, and having access to health services.”
Winis said the first payment was made in 2018, for the period 2013 to 2017.
“It was paid in two separate accumulated payments,” Winis said.
“First payment of K25.5 million in June 2018 while the second payment of K8 million, for the period July to December 2017, was paid in the same year,” he said.
“K16.3 million for 2018 was paid in 2019 and a K26.2 million payment for the financial year 2019 was made in 2020.
“2020 payment of K17.3 million was made last year, with the most recent payment of K14.8 million for the year 2021 was paid last month to the landowners.
“It was paid as last year’s outstanding royalty to four impact areas of the project,” Winis said.
Ramu NiCo management Ltd paid K8.6 million to the Kurumbukari landowner group, K2 million each to inland pipeline landowners, and coastal pipeline landowners, and K3 million to Basamuk landowners.