Ramu mine closes after attack

RAMU NiCo’s Kurumbukari mine in Madang Province remains closed today after being attacked by armed villagers on Monday, causing damages to properties worth millions of kina.

“At around 8:30am on August 4, scores of villagers armed with weapons forced their way into the office area in KBK mining site of Ramu NiCo, attacking, wrecking and burning the equipment and facilities and assaulting Chinese employees,” the KBK mine site reported.

“Five Chinese employees got injured with one receiving 14 stitches. The mine operation is currently suspended until the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.”

Key equipment used in mining, including nine excavators, one fuel truck and a lighting vehicle were burnt down.

“Computers, printing machines, office furniture, office windows and doors, two-way radios and office phones, three cat excavators, two PC300 excavators and other unidentified equipment were severely damaged or removed, causing Ramu NiCo millions of kina,” the mine said.

The company management immediately called up an emergency meeting and launched an emergency plan to ensure the safety of its staff and properties, while other contingency plans were implemented immediately, including beefing up police reinforcement from Madang. Ramu NiCo president Wang Jicheng visited KBK mine on Monday, assessed the destruction and issued instructions to the management team to ensure normalcy to mine site is restored.

A thorough investigation will be launched in the next few days to identify the cause of the attack but preliminary investigation reveals that illegal migrants to the mining area, who were unsatisfied with the company’s recruitment policy, have deliberately planned and attacked the mine site.

 

PNG Today/ Post Courier