Basil Painia’s life changed drastically when he was recruited by Ramu NiCo as a grass cutter under a contractor MCC 20 in 2006 when the land clearance for Ramu NiCo’s Basamuk refinery began.
Little did he know that this simple job would lead him down a path of great opportunity and growth.
Before joining the company as a grass cutter Painia lives an ordinary village life after completing grade 10 at the Yawe Moses high school in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
He spent his days cutting grass and maintaining the grounds of his small village. But when the clearance process for the Basamuk refinery began, he was offered a job by Ramu NiCo. At first, Painia was hesitant. He had never been exposed to the world of big machines and heavy equipment. But with a leap of faith, he accepted the job and began his journey into a new world.
Painia quickly made plans on how he as a simple grass cutter would have his hands on some big machines so when the late Raicoast MP James Gau offered school fee assistance for students who want to attend the machine operator’s course in Lae in the year 2012, Painia grabbed that opportunity and attended a two months operator’s course.
When he returned to the refinery to continue working, he was still not confident and slowly tried to move few dozers from here and there and eventually he excelled from operating machines into fixing them.
Painia now works in the power plant fixing big generators. With the guidance and training provided by Ramu NiCo’s Chinese expert engineers, Painia quickly learned the ins and outs of heavy equipment maintenance.
From a simple grass cutter, he was transformed into a skilled heavy equipment fitter, responsible for servicing and maintaining the large machines inside the refinery power plant.
Every day, Painia works tirelessly, ensuring that the machines are in top condition and running smoothly. His dedication and hard work have earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and superiors.
But for Painia, the most rewarding aspect of his job is the opportunity for personal and professional growth. He never imagined that a simple job as a grass cutter would lead him to such a fulfilling career.
Today, he is grateful to Ramu NiCo for taking a chance on him and providing him with the tools and support to excel in his field.
For Painia, the Basamuk refinery is not just a workplace, but a second home where he has found a sense of purpose and belonging. As he continues to contribute to the success of the company, he looks forward to a bright future filled with new opportunities and challenges.
He is one of Trainees that are currently attending trade test courses to earn a certificate as a heavy equipment fitter.
