Papua New Guinea Government has reaffirmed its support for the Ramu NiCo project in Madang.
A delegation from China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC), the project’s major financier and shareholder, met with Papua New Guinea government ministers this week after inspecting the company’s two project sites.
MCC vice president Xiao Xuewen and chairman of Ramu NiCo management Zong Shaoxing spent two days meeting with Government ministers in Port Moresby on Sept 6-7.
The company representatives met with three ministers, Mining Minister Byron Chan, Environment Minister John Pundari and Transport and Infrastructure Minister William Duma.
Discussions during the meeting centred around how the PNG government could support the Ramu NiCo project in a healthy, stable and constant manner for the benefit of MCC Group investment in the country.
Xuiwen said the MCC Group had been generous to Ramu NiCo project each year since construction started 10 years ago.
However, MCC has not yet gained any favourable returns from its investment.
He said during this current time when world metal price kept slumping and most mining companies around the world were shutting down, it was predicated that by end of this year, Ramu project would suffer a great loss.
Xuiwen said in order to prevent all Ramu NiCo national workers and project-related PNG contractors and suppliers from losing their jobs, it was necessary for MCC Group and Government to put a joint effort to ensure survival and development of the project.
Chan assured that his office and the Mineral Resources Authority would be doing their best in constant communication with Ramu NiCo.
Pundari at the meeting also said his department would continue to assist and support the development of Ramu NiCo project.