Visit to mine site impresses partners

 BUSINESS partners with the Ramu NiCo project visited the Basamuk refinery yesterday and came out impressed with the project’s ongoing production of nickel and cobalt in the country.

Mineral Resources Development Company clients and administration general manager Imbi Tagune said:  “Despite all the technical problems and challenges, MRDC is relieved that the management is able to overcome issues and deliver the project in its full production capacity soon.”

“We want to understand the project and ensure it is economically viable sooner,” he said.

MRDC is a partner in the Ramu NiCo project and manages the 2.5% equity set aside for the project landowners.

“As a joint venture partner, we fully understand the difficult situation Ramu NiCo faces at the moment in finding short- and long-term solutions for the long-term benefits for all stakeholders, importantly the landowners,” he said.

Tagune assured the Ramu NiCo management that the visit was for Mineral Resources Madang and the landowner executives to understand and assist the project as business partners.

Ramu NiCo’s chief operating officer Gao Yongxue: “We are currently operating around 30% of our designed capacity and we are working hard to address the technical challenges and implement process optimisations to improve the capacity.”

He added the company would continue to commit resources to achieve results, train and equip its workforce.