Ramu NiCo and the Convergence of Voices Demanding Accountability

Ramu NiCo has again found itself under the national spotlight. International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru recently directed the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) to conduct an audit into the company’s benefits to local communities, expressing dissatisfaction with its oversight. His demand reflects growing discontent not only in Madang Province but also at the national level, where the question of whether Ramu NiCo is delivering fair returns to PNG is being openly contested.

In Parliament, newly elected Usino Bundi MP Vincent Kumura has echoed these concerns, stating plainly that Ramu NiCo must do more for its host communities. His intervention is significant because it adds political weight to grievances long voiced at the grassroots. Kumura’s remarks underline that the dissatisfaction is not just localised complaint but part of a wider political consensus forming around the mine’s performance.

National revenue authorities have also entered the debate. Internal Revenue Commissioner General Sam Koim has raised questions about Ramu NiCo’s tax holiday arrangements, challenging whether the company has contributed fairly to state revenue. Koim’s comments place fiscal accountability alongside CSR concerns, highlighting that doubts about Ramu NiCo are not just about villages and provinces but extend to the heart of national economic governance.

These political and fiscal voices align with the findings of our own research. In the journal article I co-authored with Dr. Denghua Zhang, we surveyed participants outside the Special Mining Lease (SML) areas—university students in Madang and random locals at the Madang town market precinct. Their perceptions were strikingly similar to those of communities within the SML zone. Both groups judged Ramu NiCo’s CSR as narrow, inadequate, and failing to deliver meaningful, widely shared benefits.

New research by Denghua Zhang and Bernard Yegiora, published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs, explores how communities in Madang perceive Ramu NiCo’s corporate social responsibility efforts—revealing that concerns extend well beyond the Special Mining Lease areas.

What is notable is the convergence of perspectives across multiple levels of PNG society. At the community level, our survey participants voiced their disillusionment. In Parliament, Kumura reinforced their concerns. At the Cabinet level, Maru has called for an audit to hold the company accountable. And at the revenue office, Koim has questioned the fiscal foundations of Ramu NiCo’s presence. These are not isolated viewpoints—they are mutually reinforcing signals that the company has not done enough.

The issue now is how Ramu NiCo should respond. Continuing with piecemeal CSR projects will not be enough to rebuild trust. Our research shows that people want visible, high-impact outcomes that benefit a wide cross-section of society. One area where this can be delivered is infrastructure. The Ramu–Madang road is currently in the design phase under a joint Asian Development Bank and World Bank project, as announced by the Works Secretary. This road is a critical artery for both the mine and local communities.

These concerns extend beyond Ramu NiCo itself. China has invested heavily in scholarships, training, and cultural exchanges to build soft power in PNG. Yet when a flagship Chinese project like Ramu NiCo generates widespread dissatisfaction, it undermines those very efforts. For many locals, perceptions of China are shaped not by diplomatic rhetoric but by lived experiences with companies on the ground. Unless Ramu NiCo demonstrates accountability and fairness, China’s broader influence strategy in PNG risks being weakened rather than strengthened.

At this juncture, the voices of Maru, Kumura, Koim, and our research findings all converge. They point to one reality: Ramu NiCo’s social license to operate is fragile and under threat. The company can either ignore this chorus of accountability and deepen mistrust, or it can act decisively by embracing transparency, fairness, and co-investment in national development priorities. The choice it makes will define not only its future in PNG but also the broader perception of China’s role in the country.