Members of the Ramu NiCo Coastal Pipeline Women’s Association graduated with certificates in sewing after a 14 days training facilitated by Ramu NiCo Mine in Madang.
The sewing training was part of large package of the mine’s sustainable program aimed at equipping people living along the Ramu nickel and cobalt project areas with economic empowerment and survival skills before the mine reaches its full lifespan of operating in the areas.
Early this year, Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Talidig TVET centre in Madang to conduct the Sewing training for 30 participants under its Community Base Training Concept.
The 30 women participants are comprised of women from the Astrolabe Bay LLG area in Raicoast district, where part of the 135 kilometre slurry pipeline for the Ramu Nickel and cobalt project runs through.
Women who have little knowledge in sewing and some who have no single knowledge and have never slide a tread into a sewing machine came in contact with sewing machines, needles and threads in a full 14 days training held at Lalok village in Astrolabe Bay LLG.
Representing Ramu NiCo management, the company Vice President Meng Deyong congratulated the 30 participants with stating the training is a gain for individual participant and would benefit themselves and their families in the long run.
Mr Meng said Ramu NiCo continues to face other operational challenges but continues to develop new technologies to address those challenges to produce positive results. It is happy to see communities benefiting from the project as it reflects the company slogan, One Ramu NiCo, One Community.
Ramu NiCo Community Affairs General Manager Erik Kuman who had officially opened the training on 03 March 2026 said that it was the first life skills training for these women in the rural settings of Astrolabe Bay and is one of the initiatives which Ramu NiCo captured as its mine closure plan.
These women would be able to sew, cook, grow and have other life skills training to support themselves and their families, after the mine closes.
The Coastal Pipeline Women’s Association continues to set the benchmark for excellence, having been recognised as the Best Performing Women’s Group in the Mining Sector in the country at the 2023 Mining Expo in Lae.
Mr Meng said that achievement emphasized the Association’s dedication to empowering communities and driving sustainable development.
He applauded the Coastal Pipeline Women’s group for being the best performing women’s group and urged the three other landowner women’s groups to do the same.
This initiative reflects the shared vision of the Associations and Ramu NiCo to create lasting opportunities and improve the quality of life for people in the Ramu nickel and cobalt project footprint areas.
