Ramu concern intensifies

By ROSALYN EVARA

CONCERNS have intensified over the possible closure of the Ramu nickel project and attempts have been made to get the people who have taken out the injunction on an developers to withdraw their case.
The attempts were made during a meeting which Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet organised last week in the provincial capital between the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and leaders from the four mine impact areas. Also present was Sama Mellombo, who is the fifth plaintiff in the case, who was the last of the appointed speakers to officially address Sir Michael with his grievances. Mr Mellombo reiterated yet again that it was not the project they were up in arms over rather the method of mine waste disposal the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Company (MCC) and the State were adamant on pursuing.
Mr Mellombo, who had been employed by Highlands Pacific Limited (HPL) for eight years before leaving, said there were four options which had been recommended for the tailings disposal, three of them land-based. He questioned why they were so adamant on pursuing the Deep Sea Tailings Placement and even prepared to risk the lives of so many people when there was a lot of evidence already indicating how detrimental this would be.
“DSTP is the cheapest option compared to the options that have been suggested and do we (the people) want to cop the shit that will come with it? No! “No-one of you (leaders) will be here to live with the effects if it is allowed to go ahead. We are the one and we say no to it,” he stressed. Sir Arnold said from his assessment as a judge the court battle could take over three months before it is over. He said there had already been indications from the developer that if they were not allowed to go ahead with the DSTP there would be no project.
He said should this happen the Chinese, who were understood to be losing millions with the delay, would most probably leave and all the work they had done would go to waste.
Sir Arnold alluded to the fact that this could all be avoided if the necessary experts could put to rest all the doubts the people had, including those heading the charge against the company, and the case be withdrawn. “You (respondents) can withdraw the case or continue to pursue it, this is not being said to undermine your rights.
“I believe the way forward would be to ensure that more awareness is carried out while this is happening,” he said.
Kurumbukari landowner chairman David Tigavu cut in while Sir Arnold was concluding his address to the people to also appeal to the non-government organisations to withdraw the case.
Mr Tigavu said over the 85 days that the company had stopped work it had cost them $US85 million. He said if the project was forced to close down the people would suffer the most.
He urged that whatever their grievances were that they speak to the Governor and other leaders and just allow the project to progress.

Post Courier, June 16, 2010