By SEPKOLIN WALNE
MINISTER for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru has expressed dismay with the Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) for not attending to the deteriorating condition of the Usino-Bundi road linking the Ramu Nickel Mine in Madang Province.
“I still cannot believe there’s no shield road from Usino-Bundi to Mine. How can we have an unshielded dusty road going up to the most profitable mine in the country?”
“That needs to be attended very quickly, and I want you to take leadership on that, and I am not happy at all,” Minister Maru said.
“We’re talking about a downstream processing of nickel, and we must look at mobilizing all our nickel resources.
“Power will be a serious issue that we all need to work together to attend to. I’m hoping the investors here are interested in investing in electricity.”
The Minister stressed that electricity was the key service that would unlock downstream processing of nickel in PNG.
“There’s a huge demand for electricity. It’s a major business opportunity, and I am happy to talk to any investors who may be interested in investing in the hydro space.
Mr Maru urged MRA Managing Director Jerry Garry to take note of the important points and work on it.
Apart from the young reporter’s word spell errors ‘shield’ for sealed-roads, the Minister’s statement is pointed and clear.
MCC’s has had a very long grace period, and, should start re-investing in resource zone for resource owners, itself and other stakeholders benefit.
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