JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Operations were resuming at the Ramu Nickel joint venture (JV) in Papua New Guinea, following rectification work, reported Australia’s Highlands Pacific on Friday.
Operations ceased at the Basamuk refinery in April after the failure of a high-pressure steam pipeline, which resulted in the death of a Chinese staff member and the injury of two Papua New Guinea employees.
The Metallurgical Corporation of China was the operator and manager of Ramu Nickel, with Highlands Pacific holding an 8.56% interest.
Highlands Pacific reported that the Minerals Resources Authority Mines Inspectorate had conducted a formal inquiry and remedial work had been carried out.
The MRA subsequently issued a conditional permission to restart two of the three high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) trains at the process plant. The conditions concerned areas of training, supervision and general operating procedures surrounding the operation of HPAL trains one and two.
Further repairs were being undertaken on HPAL train three, where the failure occurred.