Ramu NiCo Participates in National Mining

Inside This Issue:
CONTENTS
Highlights
01 Progressive Load Commissioning Successful
02 Ramu NiCo Participates in National Mining Safety Week
04 Project MOA Review Meeting Held in Mt Hagen
All smile at Basamuk during successful load
commission- pg 01
Safety Week Special
05
06
07
08
Basamuk Refinery Open National Safety Week in Style
Madang Fire Service and Ramu NiCo Jointly Promote Safety
Developer Possess Good Firefighting Facilities
Ramu NiCo Conduct Free Medical Checks During Safety Week
Corporate and Community Relations
MOA meeting at Mt Hagen- pg 04
09 Water and Steam Supply in Basamuk Refinery Pivotal
10 Ramu NiCo Assist Madang Women
11 Medical Team Save Man Attacked by Wild Pig
Community Development
12 Former Councilor-cum Successful Cocoa Farmer
13 Lanco to Renovate Rai Coast High School
13 Astrolabe Bay Experience Successful Rice Harvest
Basamuk Refinery celebrates National
Safety Week in style- pg 05
HSE
14 Ramu NiCo on Target to Managing Environment
15 Slurry Pipeline Weekly Monitoring Give Assurance
Women in Ramu Nico
16 Helen – A Familiar Face at Basamuk Infirmary
My Say……
16 John Mollongs - Mine Production Supervisor
Feature
17 China-Trained Papua New Guinean Bridging Two Cultures
www.ramunico.com
Ramu NiCo marks National Women's
Day- pg 10
Highlights
Progressive Load Commissioning
Successful
W
ith little fanfare, Ramu Nickel Project
successfully carried out its first load
commissioning in March 2012.
The ore mining and beneficiation at KBK
Mine commenced on February 29. On March
1, the slurry was sent to Basamuk Refinery
via the 135 km slurry pipeline, arriving at the
HPAL circuit of Basamuk Refinery on March 3
with the load commissioning at the Train #3
commencing on March 4.
After 16 days of continuous load commissioning,
the production of the first batch of nickel and
cobalt hydroxide intermediate product was
achieved at the end of the product filtration
system. The rather smooth process suggests that
there is no fundamental flaw in the engineering
design, construction and operational management
and integration between different parts.
The commissioning was carried out according
to the Commissioning Plan adopted by the
Company and approved by the Chief Inspector
of Mines at MRA. The Commissioning Plan
document was circulated to every section prior
to the commencement of load commissioning.
With operational experience gathered in the
load commissioning and an impressive safety
records, Ramu NiCo is now moving confidently
with the commissioning of the other two
production lines, in order to bring the Project
into full official operation.
Nambawan Lod Komisining Kamap
Orait Tasol
R
AMU Nikel Projek wokim namba wan lod
komisining bilong en long mun Mas 2012.
Wok bilong redim gut na putim ol nikel graun i go
insait long bikpela haus long Kurumbukari i bin stat
long Februari 29, na long Mas 1 ol i salim ol nikel
graun bihainim 135 kilomita paiplain i go daun long
Basamuk Rifaineri na i bin go kamap long HPAL
long Mas 3. Long komisining long Trein namba 3
bin stat stret long Mas 4.
Bihain long 16-pela de long lod komisinising, namba
wan prodaksen bilong nikel na kobalt haidroxaid
intamidiet prodak bin kamap bihain long prodak
filtaresen sistem. Dispela gutpela wok kamap i soim
olsem ol bikpela wok stat long enjiniaring disain, i
go konstraksen na operesen menesmen bilong ol
arapela sistem i go orait stret.
Wantaim dispela ol gutpela save long stat bilong
wok long komisining na gutpela sefti rekot, Ramu
NiCo i gat strong nau long muv i go long mekim
komisining bilong ol narapela tupela prodaksen
lain. Dispela bai bringim Projek i go insait long ful
operesen stret.
Namba wan Lod Komisining i kamapm bihainim
Komisining Plen we Kampani i kisim tok-orait i
kam long Sif Inspekta bilong Mains long Mineral
Risoses Atoriti (MRA). Ol Komisining Plen pepa i go
long olgeta seksen pastaim long stat bilong Lod
Komisining.
01
Highlights
Ramu NiCo Participates in
National Mining Safety Week
Safety inspection at Basamuk
02
R
AMU NiCo employees from all three sites,
KBK Mine, Basamuk Refinery and Madang
Office join other mining operations in PNG by
participating in the first Apex National Mining
Safety Week in March.
The National Mining Safety Week is an initiative
of Mr. Mohan Singh, the Chief Inspectorate of
the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) as a lead
up to the Second National Emergency Response
Challenge scheduled later this year.
The week-long activities from March 5 to 11
saw employees at the three sites participating in
the events with enthusiasm, and applied their
talents in quiz shows, parade, safety drills, safety
poster drawing and safety song competitions.
Ramu NiCo Chief Operating Officer, Gao
Yongxue opened the Safety Week on March
5 at a mobilization conference attended by
mangers of all three sites. Mr. Gao said that in
organizing the activities, Ramu NiCo is hoping to
raise the safety awareness across the Company
as safety is everybody’s priority. Mr. Gao asked
Ramu employees at all sites to ensure safety is
maintained at every level.
After a one week’s event, HSE General Manager
(Health, Safety and Environment), Wayne Basson
thanked all employees who participated with
enthusiasm, and applied their talents in the
organised activities.
“Without you these events would not have
been fantastic and successful as we’ve enjoyed.”
“I trust that this experience will enhance safety
awareness each and every day in the coming
years, and look forward to seeing if we can
make this an even bigger and better event next
year,” Mr Basson said.
More reports can be found in the following “Safety Week Special” section.
www.ramunico.com
Madang staff admiring safety posters
Highlights
Ramu NiCo Amamasim Nesenel
Maining Sefti Wik Gut Stret
Mr. Aiso from MRA Inspectorate
admiring a safety poster at KBK
03
R
AMU NiCo i bin amamasim Apex Nesenel
Maining Sefti Wik wantaim naispela ol
program bilong en.
Dispela Nesenel Maining Sefti Wik i bin stat
long Mas 3 na pinis long Mas 11 na i lukim
ol wok lain bilong Ramu NiCo i putim kamap
planti kain kain ol gutpela sefti program
bilong en long amamasim dispela wik.
Ol i amamasim dispela wik wantaim ol pilai,
kwiz, posta kompetisen long tripela wok eria
bilong Ramu NiCo em long Kurumbukari (KBK)
Main, Basamuk (BSK) Rifaineri na tu long
Madang ofis.
Sif Opereting Ofisa bilong Ramu Nico, Gao
Yongxue i bin opim dispela Nesenel Sefti Wik
program na i tokaut strong olsem sefti em
bikpela samting tru na em bisnis bilong olgeta
lain long Ramu NiCo.
Insait long ol Sefti Wik program i bin gat ol
paia drill pilai i kamap we i lukim tu ol lain
bilong PNG Fire Sevis long Madang i go givim
toktok na tu soim ol wok lain long rot bilong
kilim indai paia. Dispela i bin kamap long Ramu
NiCo Madang ofis. Progrem long Madang i
lukim tu ol lain bilong Modilon Hausik i go givim
ol toktok long sait bilong helt.
Progrem long Basamuk na KBK i bin lukim ol
paia drill na posta kompetisen.
Long Basamuk yet, we i bin gat wanpela
mas o pereid i lukim naispela kala tru bilong
olgeta wok lain bilong Ramu NiCo wantaim ol
kontrakta i wokabaut na mas long Rifaineri i
go olgeta long ples o eria bilong slip.
Kala bilong yunifom bilong ol wok lain i sain
nais tru na planti lain manmeri bilong ples
husat i sanap lukim dispela mas i tok em i bin
nais tru.
Narapela program long Basamuk we i lukim
Komyuniti Afes (CA) Dipatmen i redim
program we i lukim ol medikol tim bilong
Ramu NiCo i go long ples Jangang long givim
fri medikol sekap na givim marasin na tu givim
toktok long sik malaria na sik HIV/AIDS.
Planti ol lain manmeri bilong ples i amamas
tru long dispela fri medical sek na tu sampela i
kisim marasin na helpim i kam long ol medikol
tim bilong Ramu NiCo long Basamuk.
Long Fraide, Mas 9 i bin gat wanpela
kompetisen i kamap long Basamuk tu we
wanpela wokman i mekim wanpela Sefti
song na tu i lukim sampela ol lain bilong
rifaineri dipatmen i go singsing.
Long arere Mas 10, Ramu NiCo i givim prais
long ol lain husat i win long mekim posta long
ofis long Madang. Wankain tu i bin kamap
long KBK na BSK.
Highlights
Project MOA Review Meeting
Held in Mt Hagen
the opening ceremony. Director & Executive
Vice President of Ramu NiCo, Gu Yuxiang
later acknowledged and thanked the Project
landowners and stakeholders for their support
towards the Project.
MoA review meeting at Mt Hagen
During the round table review, parties
deliberated further on the MoA document last
revised in Madang in 2011. It covered topics
such as business spin-offs, royalties, infrastructure
developments, establishment of Ramu Nickel
Foundation and other commitments by the
stakeholders under the MoA.
A
WEEK-LONG Ramu Project Memorandum
of Agreement (MoA) Review Meeting
was held in Mt. Hagen from April 23 to 27.
Parties to the MoA present at the meeting
included the State team, landowner executives
with the four landowner associations (LOA)
chairmen and Ramu NiCo team on behalf of
the Ramu Nickle Joint Venture. The Madang
Provincial Government and concerned Local
Level Governments (LLG) were not present.
Ramu Project Coordinator with MRA, Carter
Oiee welcomed the stakeholders during
Main issues concerning the state, landowners
and Ramu NiCo were reviewed clause by
clause and principally agreed. Parties present
at the time also agreed that the Project should
proceed into full operation soon.
MoA Riviu Miting kamap Long Mt
Hagen
04
R
AMU Projek Memorandum ov Agrimen
(MoA) Riviu Miting i bin kamap long Mt
Hagen long Epril 23 i go 27.
Ol lain stekholda husat i stap insait long MoA
hust i bin bung long Hagen em Gavman tim, ol
eksekutiv bilong ol lenona asosesin (LOA) na ol
siaman bilong LOA na Ramu NiCo tim husat i
makim Ramu Nikel Joint Vensa. Madang Provinsal
Gavman na lokal level gavman i no bin kamap
Ramu NiCo team at Mt Hagen MoA review meeting
www.ramunico.com
Ramu Projek Kodineta wantaim MRA, Carter Oiee
i opim miting wantaim tok welkam na bihain
Dairekta na Eksekutiv Vais Presiden bilong Ramu
NiCo, Gu Yuxiang i luksave na tok welkam long
olgeta Projek lenonas na ol stekholdas long ol
sapot ol i save givim long Projek.
Insait long miting ol lain stekholda i toktok long ol
samting we MoA Riviu long Madang i bin toktok
long en long 2011. Ol dispela bikpela toktok i
karamapim ol samting olsem ol bisnis wok, royalty,
wok divelopmen bai kamap na tu plen bilong
kamapim Ramu Nikel Faundesen na ol arapela
komitmen ol stekholdas i laikim aninit long MoA.
Ol bikpela toktok na wanem ol samting we
Gavman, papagraun na Ramu NiCo i mas mekim
em ol stekholda i toktok na karamapim wan wan
na ol i tok orait long en.
Ol lain stekholda husat i bin bung long dispela
taim i tok-orait na laikim olsem Projek i mas go
het na kamapim ful operesen.
Safety Week Special
Basamuk Refinery Open National Safety
Week in Style
The Parade to safety
05
B
ASAMUK Refinery staged an impressively
colorful parade and a march-by to mark
the opening of the Apex National Mining
Safety Week on March 5, in the rural coastal
setting of Rai Coast.
Ramu NiCo employees from different technical
departments and operational sections were
remarkably attired in PPE (Personal Protection
Equipment) as they displayed banners
depicting various safety slogans and themes.
They began marching in orderly fashion
chanting and waving their multi-colored
banners from within the Refinery all the way
to the Company’s new accommodation area
covering a distance of about five kilometers.
It was an impressive show of a unified force
as they marched starting at around 5:30
pm carrying banners making the scenery
look bright and beautiful as the rays of
the afternoon sun was gradually setting in
the magnificent Finistere mountain ranges
towering in the horizon.
Local villagers, some returning from their
gardens stood stunned and watched by at
the roadside with fascination. Even children
applauded the display as it was the first time
most of them had witnessed such.
“The villagers were thrilled because they’ve
not seen such big parade and march-by
before,” remarked Mou Bilang, a local from
nearby Ganglau village.
“And for Ramu NiCo to promote safety rules
and standards in such remote locations is very
encouraging,” he said, as he happily joined
the Community Affairs team in the march.
Prior to that activity, Company employees
were asked to produce beautiful posters
depicting different safety themes and slogans.
Some drawn by hand, others designed using
computer graphics were later displayed for
public viewing.
The posters emphasized safety as crucial for all
staff of Ramu NiCo and the need to establish
and manage real life situations and utilize
appropriate equipment and process to uphold
safety by promoting “Zero Harm”. The event
ended with safety song competition.
Safety Week Special
Madang Fire Service and Ramu NiCo Jointly
Promote Health and Safety
M
ADANG Office also conducted several
e d u c a t i o n a l a w a re n e s s a c t i v i t i e s
throughout the Safety Week.
However, its activities were differed a fair bit
to the two sites because it invited outside
service agencies to promote health and safety.
These include first-aid training by Modilon
General Hospital, road safety lecture by Police
Traffic Unit from Madang and firefighting drill
by Madang Fire Service. Nutrition and HIV/
AIDS awareness was conducted by Ramu
NiCo’s Community Affairs gender officers
with all staff participating in safety poster
competition.
The highlight for Madang Office was the fire
safety drill conducted by the PNG Fire Service
using its fire engine equipped with modern
instruments. Safety drill was conducted in
front of Glass Haus complex.
06
Madang staff trying out fire hose
www.ramunico.com
The management invited the Fire Service to
demonstrate how different types of fires can be
extinguished, how water pumps and hoses and
firefighting equipments are installed and used,
and how life saving equipment on their fire
engines is used in times of accident and others.
“Safety is very important for Ramu NiCo and
your high standard demonstration contributes
to our knowledge of safety,” Director and
Executive Vice President of Ramu NiCo, Mr.
Gu Yuxiang said when commending the Fire
Service team.
First-aid training
The fire team was led by Madang Fire
Service Station Commander and Inspector
Robert Wandokun and officer Joe Dumau,
pump operator and officer John Gream and
colleague Canute Yamang.
Safety Week Special
Developer Possess Good Firefighting
Facilities
R
AMU NiCo’s KBK Mine and Basamuk
Refinery are well equipped with fire
hydrants, extinguishers and other fire-fighting
facilities.
The sites also have fire-fighting trucks that
can properly serve the size of the plants with
qualified fire-fighters comprising of both
national and Chinese employees.
Chief Operating Officer Gao Yongxue made
this remark during the fire-fighting drill at KBK
Mine site on March 8 during the week long
PNG Mining Safety Week campaign.
“From the operational safety and risk
mitigation perspective, firefighting is very
important for our operation.”
“Since the engineering stage, we spent lots of
efforts ensuring we are properly equipped,”
he said.
Fire expert from Sustainability with
national fire fighters at KBK Mine
General Manager of HSE, Wayne Basson also
confirmed that fire fighting trainings take place
regularly at both KBK and Basamuk sites.
Ramu NiCo engaged fire experts from The
SUSTAINABILITY based in Western Australia to
train the fire fighters.
E m e r g e n c y R e s p o n s e Tr a i n e r f r o m
SUSTAINABILITY Jayson Dawson said he
is training both Chinese and nationals to
become qualified fire fighters.
“I am happy with them. We also have a
Chinese trainer and more fire fighters are now
on site,” Mr. Dawson said.
During the demonstration at KBK on Thursday
March 8, a smashed vehicle was put up in
flame and immediately after seven minutes,
KBK site fire fighters under the command
of Mr. Dawson responded and immediately
extinguished the fire and re scued the
casualties.
07
Fire fighting drill at Basamuk refinery
During the safety week, KBK staff and
management also participated in chemical
safety training, hygiene competition, isolation
Modern fire truck at Basamuk refinery
and lockout training, smoking and alcohol
awareness and healthy lifestyle awareness
poster competition among others.
Safety Week Special
Ramu NiCo Conduct Free Medical
Checks During Safety Week
F
REE medical checks including health
awareness on malaria and HIV/AIDS were
conducted at Jangang village in Rai Coast
district by Basamuk Refinery medical team on
March 7, coinciding with the National Mining
Safety Week from March 5-11.
Over four hundred people, including men,
women and children from Jangang, Mindre
and Ganglau villages near Basamuk Refinery
converged on Jangang village to mark the
day along with Ramu NiCo medical team.
Pep-talks on HIV/AIDS were also delivered
with emphasis that there is no cure for HIV/
AIDS and individuals must take precaution.
pregnant women and children under 5-years
of age have the highest risk of dying from it.
Random medical checks were also conducted
by Ramu NiCo medical officers, Dr. Pomuso
Warima and Dr. Tongjun Qi. The checks
include chest using stethoscope and eyes for
signs of any diseases.
Mothers brought along their children,
mostly infants to check on their medical
conditions such as spleen and also for
symptoms of malaria.
“The only way to know whether you have
HIV/AIDS or not is to do a simple blood test
at a clinic or VCT (voluntary counseling and
testing),” said the team.
Conducting awareness using condom
Prior to the medical check-up, Ramu NiCo’s
nursing sister at Basamuk, Helen Bruno
explained to the villagers that malaria is
caused by female mosquitoes that travels
and feeds at night.
Sr. Helen pointed out that malaria is one
of the most serious sicknesses in PNG and
08
Dr. Warima encouraging nutritional
values of local food
Medical officers carrying out medical check
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Corporate & Community Relations
Water and Steam Supply in
Basamuk Refinery Pivotal
T
HE WATER and Steam Supply Section
at Basamuk Refinery is responsible for
supplying water to the accommodation and
various parts of the Refinery plant.
Henry introduced that the section is operating six
deep well pump houses near the Yaganon river
close to the camp, where raw water is pumped
from deep well to the water pump station.
Moreover, this Section produces high pressure
and low pressure steam for the Refinery. Both
are very important in the running of the daily
operation.
The high pressure steam is then sent to HPAL
and the low pressure steam to different areas
within the Refinery including, the acid plant,
limestone plant, power plant, production
area and the wharf.
Visitors to the Section will meet He Kunpeng,
or Jim Henry as he prefers to be called by
his English name, the Sectional Deputy
Superintendent.
Henry is a very amicable person. He joined
in Ramu NiCo in 2007 and has been in the
country for over four years.
One thing that the national staff like about
Henry is that whenever he notices any
person having a problem, he talks to them
and always wants to find out what is really
bothering them.
Henry loves to encourage his fellow colleagues
to do their best and learn as much as they can
for their benefit in the future.
Henry explained that the de-mineralized
water is later sent to four main places
including two acid boilers, two stand-by
boilers, the power plant and the HPAL.
Every two weeks, the Section also produces
over four hundred bottles of water dubbed
as ’Ramu Spring’ at its purified water station
for the staff consumption.
Donald at Water Supply and Treatment Plant
09
Donald and He monitoring the water and steam
supply at Basamuk
Corporate & Community Relations
Ramu NiCo Assist Madang
Women
A
S a good corporate citizen of Madang,
Ramu NiCo has once again showed its
generosity by donating several food items to
the Madang Provincial Council of Women
in support of the National Women’s Day
celebrations.
Margaret Zhao Miao from Ramu NiCo’s
Corporate Office presented several bales of
rice and cartons of tinned fish to the Council
secretariat office.
Ms Zhao when making the donation
emphasized that Ramu NiCo understands
the role women play in the development of
the society.
Ramu NiCo was approached by the president
of the Madang Council of Women, Mary
Kamang to provide assistance to the women
during the occasion.
10
The Ramu NiCo team in the National Women's Day
www.ramunico.com
Women leaders who attended were from all
six districts of the Province, including Madang,
Sumkar, Bogia, Rai Coast, Middle Ramu and
Usino-Bundi.
They gathered in Madang to mark the annual
event to raise awareness on a number of
issues affecting women in the country as well
as petition the authorities concerned about
means and ways to help women organizations
in the Province.
A number of Ramu NiCo staff, both men and
women also joined in the event in which the
women folks called for “Stop to Violence
against Women” and for relevant authorities
in the Province to work towards Madang’s
former glory and beauty.
Margaret Zhao and Madang women rep
Corporate & Community Relations
Medical Team Save Man
Attacked by Wild Pig
Raibus Security personals rushed him to
Basamuk Refinery infirmary after received
a call for assistance from Tenang’s relatives.
Blood was flowing profusely when he was
brought in. The medical team immediately
applied first aid and other life-saving
procedures, and then arranged the company
ferry m.v. Carrie to transport him to Modilon
hospital in Madang on an emergency run.
The family of the boy expressed their
appreciation to Ramu NiCo for helping them
during their time of desperate need. Ramu
NiCo praises the Basamuk medical team lead
by Dr. Tongjun Qi, nurse Helen Bruno and
first-aid officer and driver Timothy Gabong
for saving the local, and the mv Carrie crew
for cooperating in making the emergency trip
outside of its schedule.
Medical staff at Basamuk attend to victim
R
AMU NiCo has time and again showed
compassion for people in need when
it helped a young man from Rai Coast,
who sustained serious injuries after he was
attacked by a wild pig.
Tenang Bayom, aged in his early 20s from Buf
village near Basamuk is lucky to be alive after
he was saved by Ramu NiCo medical team at
Basamuk following the incident on Thursday
April 12 near his village.
The wild boar chased by other villagers
approached Tenang and suddenly jumped
on him and began tearing his body causing
horrendous injuries.
It is not the first time Ramu NiCo has
displayed its love and compassion towards the
community. At the end of last year mv Carrie
whole-heartedly helped rescuing the Airlines
PNG crash survivors and in the following day
ferried rescuers and police investigation team
to the crash site at Guabe river near Marakum
in Rai Coast.
11
Community Development
Former Councilor-cum Successful
Cocoa Farmer
A
FORMER councilor, Manawa Putaria from
Anieke village in Ward 17 of Usino Local
Level Government (LLG), Madang province
was once a committed taro farmer.
With the earnings, Putaria purchased a
generator worth K3,000, a welding machine,
built three semi-permanent houses and
manages to send all his children to school.
Putaria’s taro gardens supported his two wives
and ten siblings well, with surplus sold at the
local markets. He was satisfied and had no
intentions to build up his capital. That went
on for some time.
“After five years, I plan to buy a vehicle and
build a permanent house with toilet, kitchen
and everything inside”, determined Putaria said.
He never knew that if he invested his energy in
cocoa farming then this would transform him
into a person to be reckoned with in future.
A break-through came to this industrious
gardener between 2007 and 2008 following
an intensive training workshop jointly
conducted by Ramu NiCo and World Vision
under the Begesin Bugati Rural Development
Project. Putaria was fortunate to attend and
acquired valuable information and skills in
cocoa farming.
12
Putaria is also assisted by his wife, Lydia who
farms a 1.5 hector cocoa plot and his uncle
Jeffery who farms two hectares. With the
combined harvest, they are eligible to own
an eight-by-eight square meters fermentry to
harvest dry beans.
“I don’t have any regrets. Cocoa only will
support me to improve my life,” Putaria said.
Putaria and Lydia
With the knowledge and regular guidance from
Ramu NiCo agriculture field extension officer
Samuel Masawa, Putaria converted his taro
growing skills to cocoa blocks. And since 2009
till now he has over two hectare cocoa blocks
that fetches him around10 wet bean bags.
Samuel and Jeffery posing with a cocoa
tree bearing more than 200 pods
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The family said with the training from Ramu
NiCo and continuous supervision, they have
been doing exceptionally well.
Ramu NiCo conducts regular agriculture
training along its Pipeline villages, including
Basamuk and KBK to encourage food security,
a necessity for the community to sustain
themselves in the future.
Community Development
Lanco to Renovate Rai Coast
High School
O
N Monday April 16, Mineral Resources
Authority (MRA) officially awarded a
contract worth over K1 million to Wass Matau
Limited, one of Ramu Project landowner
companies to do work at the run-down Rai
Coast High School.
Board Directors of Wass Matau Ltd, the
representatives of Ramu NiCo, Madang
provincial government, Treasury as well as
community leaders from Rai Coast were
present to witness the occasion in Madang.
This is the first phase contract work under the
State’s commitment towards infrastructure
development under the Ramu Project MoA and
will see work done on students’ dormitories,
school mess, kitchen and ablution blocks.
Community Project Engineer from MRA, Yako
Punin Minaro handed over the cheque and asked
Wass Matau to deliver the project on time.
the project will be delivered on time and
with quality.
“We will do our best to ensure the school is
brought to its former standard and glory so our
children receive better education,” he said.
The first project worth K1.3 million was
a w a rd e d t o M a i r a g i L t d re p re s e n t i n g
landowners from Inland Pipeline to build eight
houses at Walium and Usino station, second
contract worth K1.2 million was awarded to
KBK Ltd representing landowners from KBK
Mine to build the North access road, and Rai
Coast school project is the third.
Ramu Project Coordinator, Carter Oiee
congratulated Wass Matau Ltd and challenged
them to deliver the project so the students
can benefit.
John Bivi, Coordinator Mines of Madang
Provincial Government and Stotick Kamya,
deputy general manager with Ramu NiCo
Community Affairs department, also joined
others in congratulating Wass Matau Ltd for
the contract.
Rai Coast High school is located within the
Coastal Pipeline impact area of the Ramu
Project with Wass Matau being the only
landowner company.
Ramu NiCo assisted the school over the past
years with the major one being K40,000.
worth of tractor donated in 2010 for the
schools agriculture activities.
Mr. Yako presenting cheque to Mr. Saud
“As the Ramu NiCo landowner company that
will benefit the landowners and school as
well, we give the contract with no hesitation
but urge you assist us (MRA) by delivering the
project on time with quality,” Mr. Minaro said.
13
Board Chairman of Wass Matau, Steven
Saud assured MRA and the government that
Astrolabe Bay Experience
Successful Rice Harvest
R
ECIPIENTS of rice training conducted by
the Ramu NiCo agriculture specialists
at Bom village in the Astrolabe Bay area of
Madang in November 2011 are now reaping
the seeds of what they have sowed.
Till March 31 2012, a total of 560 kg of paddy
rice were harvested by the farmers and a total
of 303 kg of milled rice was produced.
The seven small-scale rice farmers were
assisted by Ramu NiCo with transport to bring
bags of paddy rice to Madang to mill. They
included, Wagi Thomas, Thomas Wanopai,
Wagi Marus, Abel Knox. Wambu Masab,
Tarauba Denmark and William Wagems.
Wagems, who spoke on behalf of the farmers
said the training by Ramu NiCo training
officer, Aldam Bande was very helpful.
During the training last year, Ramu NiCo
provided 40 kg of rice seeds to the farmers.
Today, there are about 103 active rice farmers
in the village and they are being encouraged
to increase their rice production for food
security and income generation.
Farmers with their milled rice
Ramu NiCo agriculture section monitors
the farmers from time to time and provides
continuous support in increasing their
production.
HSE
Ramu NiCo on Target to Managing
the Environment
B
ETWEEN March 23 and April 4, Ramu
NiCo engaged an environmental
consultant, Ninkama Yoba and Associates
to conduct reinstallation of its six stream
gauge stations in the vicinity of KBK Mine
and Basamuk Refinery.
The gauge stations are to allow measurement
of stream discharge and water quality
relations with discharge and also to evaluate
water supply sources.
Four (4) of the six (6) gauge stations at Project
sites were step-up in the vicinity of KBK Mine
at Banap creek, Anangri creek, Banu creek
and Ramu river at Sepu to measure stream
discharge from KBK Mine site operations. The
other two (2) gauge stations were established
at Gagaiyo river near KBK Mine site and
Yaganon river near Basamuk Refinery to
evaluate water supply sources to the Mine
and Refinery respectively.
The six stream gauge stations were initially
set up in November 2006 during the baseline
survey after Ramu NiCo became the Project
Manager. However over the time some of
those gauge stations were vandalised, stolen
or simply malfunctioned, causing challenges to
the monitoring work.
During the reinstallation, a DRUK pressure
sensor was installed above the streambed connected to a data-logger (CR200
Datalogger) via a protective stainless steel
pipe to collect water level readings whilst a
protective housing was also set up at each of
the gauge locations to house the data loggers.
This protective housing is also used as a
security measure against vandalism.
Apart from the reinstallation and relocation,
stream current profiling survey was
conducted in the vicinity of the gauge
stations specifically at Banu creek, Anagri
c re e k , B a n a p c re e k a n d G a g a y o r i v e r
to establish monitoring sites within the
prospect that was prone to be disturbed
during mining activities at KBK. These
hydrological activities were established to
measure the stream flow (discharge), water
quality in relation to discharge and the
stream depth.
This would now enable a detailed management
measure with consistency and continuous
hydrological monitoring program implemented
during the Project operational stages.
Local landowners are hired to look after the
stations, providing them the opportunity to
earn some money.
Ramu NiCo environmental staff, Aaron Yulong,
Dickson Yoga and Jennifer Goari led by HSE
Manager Johnson Chen were involved with the
consultant in the reinstallation exercise.
Ramu NiCo Gohet long Menesim
Envairomen
14
R
Ninkama and assistants
measuring the river level
AMU NiCo i yusim wanpela nesenel
konsalten long helpim na stretim wok
bilong en long sait long lukautim bus, graun,
wara na solwara.
Em i yusim sevis bilong Ninkama Yoba na Asosiets
long stretim gen 6-pela wara mita stesen long ol eria
klostu long KBK Main na tu long Basamuk Rifaineri.
Bikpela wok bilong ol dispela wara mita stesin em
long rekotim o kisim mak bilong wara i ron na tu
kwaliti bilong wara we i ron kamaut. Ol i kamapim
ol dispela wara mita stesin tu long glasim na sekim
gut wanem hap ples wara i kamaut long en.
Namel long dispela 6-pela wara-mita stesin long
Ramu NiCo Projek, 4-pela em ol i putim klostu long
KBK Main long Banap wara, Anangri, Banu wara na
bikpela Ramu Riva long Sepu long kisim rekot bilong
ol wara i ron i go aut na glasim wantaim KBK Main.
Narapela tupela wara-mita stesin em ol i putim long
Gagaiyo Riva klostu long KBK yet na narapela em ol
i putim klostu long Basamuk Rifainri, na tupela em
long kisim rekot bilong wanem hap wara i kamaut
long en
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Hailans Pasifik Limited (HPL) i bin wokim kamap
6-pela wara-mita stesen long Novemba 2006 taim
ol i karimaut beslain sevei bilong Ramu Projek. Tasol
long taim bilong wok bilong en, ol dispela waramita stesen i bungim planti hevi olsem ol lain long
ples i brukim na stilim ol samting na tu ol masin i ron
nogut na i no kisim gutpela rekot.
Olsem na long dispela as tasol, stat long Mas 23 i
go Epril 4, 2012 Ramu NiCo i kamap gen wantaim
tingting long wokim gen displa wara-mita stesen
program bilong en. Wankain beslain wok samting
em ol i yusim long wokim na kamapim gen ol waramita stesin.
Ol HSE wokman meri bilong Ramu NiCo husat i wok
klostu wantaim Ninkama Yoba na Asosiets long
wokim kamap gen ol wara-mita stesin em Aaron
Yulong, Dickson Yoga na Jennifer Goari. Deputi
jeneral menesa bilong HSE, Johnson Chen i lukautim
ol wok lain bilong em long karimaut sevei wok.
HSE
Slurry Pipeline Weekly Monitoring
to Give Assurance
I
N ITS weekly Slurry Pipeline Movement
Monitoring Report compiled April 22, 2012
and submitted to the Government, Ramu
NiCo indicated that the pipeline movement
is almost at a standstill while the rectification
work is in good progress.
relevant government agencies including
Madang Provincial Works Department, MRA
and DEC on this matter. In February, the
Madang Works Department and Ramu NiCo
signed a MoU, setting out steps to tackle
the issue. Later the Government agencies
and Ramu NiCo conducted joint onsite
inspection twice to allocate the tasks and
monitor the progress.
The two spots of focuses are at 38 and 41
kilometre respectively of the slurry pipeline
from the KBK Mine which experienced landslip
caused by the heavy rain early this year.
Slurry pipeline signage
In order to avoid displacement of the
pipeline caused by further landslip, remedial
work commenced where top overburden
soils were removed to reduce the weight
and also to push pipeline back into
alignment. At the same time Ramu NiCo
erected safety signs along the spots to warn
travelling public and is conducting regular
monitoring of the pipeline.
Ramu NiCo has been working closely with
Ramu NiCo save sekim Paiplain
Oltaim
I
NSAIT long Slari Paiplain Muvmen
Monitoring Ripot i go long ol Gavman
ejensi we Ramu NiCo i redim long Epril 22,
2012, Ramu NiCo i soim olsem muvmen bilong
paiplain i stap orait na sampela wok i go het
orait tasol.
Tupela eria we moa luksave i stap long en em i
stap namel long 38 na 41 kilomita mak bilong slari
paiplain stat long KBK Main we i bin lukim graun
i bruk taim bikpela ren i pundaun long stat bilong
dispela yia.
Kawawar landslip remediation
commenced
Long stopim paiplain long surik taim graun i bruk,
sampela wok long sait long stretim i bin kamap
taim ol wok lain bilong Ramu NiCo i rausim ol graun
antap na long paiplain na daunim hevi na pusim
paiplain i go bek long lain stret. Long wan kain taim
tu Ramu NiCo i sanapim ol sefti sain long ol ples
klostu long rot long toksave long ol pablik i yusim rot
na tu em i go het yet long sekim paiplain.
Stat long mun Februari, Ramu NiCo i bin wok
klostu wantaim ol lain gavman ejensi olsem
Madang Provinsal
Woks Dipatmen, Mineral Risoses Atoriti (MRA) na
Dipatmen ov Envairomen na Konsevesen (DEC) long
lukluk i go insait long envairomen.
Long mun Februari long dispela yia Ramu NiCo
wantaim Woks Dipatmen long Madang i bin sainim
wanpela memorandum ov agrimen (MoA long
lukluk i go insait long wanem kain ol hevi na wok i
ken kamap na husat bai stretim.
Bihain long dispela ol lain gavman ejensi na Ramu
NiCo i bin mekim lukluk raun i go long paiplain eria
na sekim gut wanem ol samting i kamap long hap.
15
Women in Ramu Nico / My Say……
Helen-A Familiar Face at Basamuk
Infirmary
H
ELEN Bruno is already a familiar face at
Basamuk amongst the employees at the
Refinery Plant.
She is the general nursing sister at Basamuk
infirmary who attends to Ramu NiCo
employees when they are down sick and need
medication.
Helen hails from Malol in the Aitape district of
Sandaun province. She joined Ramu NiCo in
November, 2010 after working previously with
Chemcare in Madang.
Prior to moving to Madang she was working
with Vanimo general hospital in her home
province, Sandaun.
Helen mentioned some of the highlights of
her work at Basamuk include her involvement
in the community outreach exercise during the
National Mining Safety Week. She assisted in
conducting random medical checks conducted
by the Ramu NiCo medical officers, Dr.
Pomuso Warima and Dr. Tongjun Qi who are
stationed at Basamuk.
Helen conducting awareness
at Basamuk
16
Helen Bruno
We Train Employees on All Aspects
of Safety
“Since Ramu Project is the first of its kind in the country, it is quite challenging with
people from different cultures working together. However, we try our best to minimize the
challenges with our utmost focus to develop the mine into a world-class operation. In order
to achieve that, we train national employees in all aspects of safety and safe operation of
equipment and safety compliance.”
John Mollongs – Mine Production Supervisor
John Mollongs
www.ramunico.com
Feature
China-Trained Papua New Guinean
Bridging Two Cultures
T
H E W I S D O M t o b u i l d R a m u N i C o ’s
corporate culture based on the
commitment of “One Ramu NiCo, One
Community” is undeniably paramount and
much-needed.
Malcolm Philip Taureka, from Lalaura village
in the Central Province can be the Company’s
another valuable addition in helping
minimizing the cultural and language gaps
among its muti-national team.
“It was exciting working with international
experts from all over the world. Geologists,
geographers, hydrologist and others from
China, Brazil, Africa, PNG, New Zealand and
Peru”, he continues.
Malcolm at KBK
mine site
Prior to joining the geo surveying company in
Port Moresby, Malcolm enjoyed a wonderful
cultural experience in China from 2007 where
he underwent a Master of Science study, with
specific research on Geo Information Systems
in modeling spatial data at the China Mining
University of Technology.
“My education helped me to study the
geological information systems and cultural
learning in China. Because I learnt Chinese
and able to speak fluent Chinese Mandarin,
it helps me a great deal to communicate well
with Chinese,” Malcolm said.
“My experience in China was pretty exciting
and I was able to see and feel myself China’s
diverse cultural learning environment.”
“I remember travelling to Suzhou and
Nanjing, the two beautiful places in China,”
Malcolm recalls.
Suzhou is literally known to be one of the
‘heavens of China’ with beautiful environment
settings. Guilin is another city in Guanxi
province where he visited.
Malcolm also had the opportunity to attend
academic gatherings where he met experts
from all over the world.
“The locals and Chinese work together to
achieve results. When the job is accomplished
we are satisfied and share a few jokes and
laugh,” he said.
Besides being a cultural ambassador in a sense,
Malcolm is also busy with his job assignments. He
prepares database for drilling and ore modeling,
grade calculation, provide geological maps,
engineering plans and construction, plans and
collecting samples, draw plans related to the
department’s needs, modeling ore pits, mine
surveying of pits and stock piles, provide in-house
training for locals when required and others.
Majored in geology, Malcolm is based at
the Kurumbukari (KBK) Mine as the GSI
(Geological Survey Information) coordinator.
He commenced work with Ramu NiCo on
March 6, 2012 after a short stint with a geo
surveying engineering firm in Port Moresby.
What is quite unique with Malcom is that he
speaks fluent Chinese Mandarin, apart from
his fluent Motu, Tok Pisin and English, making
this young lad a potential bridge between the
different cultures in the Project.
W ith his addition, the Geology Survey
department in KBK Mine is fun-filled
with Chinese and nationals working
harmoniously together.
Equipped with those knowledge and cultural
experiences, Malcolm has confidence in
himself that he is capable to assist Ramu
Project in gradually bridging the cultural gap.
Carrying out official tasks in line with his
designated qualification and also going
further to enhance in bridging the two
cultures is Malcom’s long term ambition as
long as he is happy with Ramu NiCo and the
Company is happy with him.
17
Malcom acknowledges that there can be
many misunderstanding leading to potential
conflicts and problems but he is willing to help
bridge using his Chinese language capability.
“My aim is to create harmony and bring
understanding between a Chinese and PNG.
Knowing Chinese environment I think you
can capture the essence of working. However,
there would be many hiccups… I’m willing
to go along with it and bring some formal
understanding”.
Malcolm encourages fellow employees,
including Papua New Guineans, Chinese
and foreign-nationals to play their part in
promoting a harmonious working environment
to bridge the cultural and language gaps.
“Try to learn their (Chinese) culture and work
along with them although there are certain
differences in mind. It is good to establish a
friendly environment.”
“The best thing is that you learn some
Chinese words and see how you will grow
to better understand Chinese working
environment,” Malcom advised.
Malcolm walking the Great Wall of China
ABOUT RAMU NICKEL
UPDATER
We welcome feedback and
encourage contributions.
Please send your
contributions to:
The Editor
Ramu Nickel Updater
P. O. Box 1229
Madang
Ph: 4222888
Fax: 4221710
Email: [email protected]
The Editor reserves the right
to hold back any contribution
thought to be unsuitable.
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