Two sitting days have been set aside by the court to hear the appeal being waged by some residents of the Rai Coast, who have failed in a number of recent applications to the Supreme Court to have a temporary injunction granted pending the outcome of the court case.

The project operator and manager with an 85% stake is China Metallurgical Construction Company through its subsidiary Ramu Nico Management with Australian company Highlands Pacific holding 11.3% but with an option to grow this to 20.55%.

Both Ramu Nico and the PNG Government have also filed cross appeals in relation to parts of the judgement handed down by the National Court of Madang, which will be heard at the same time.

In the meantime, commissioning activities at Ramu are continuing.

Located 75 kilometres west of the provincial capital of Madang, the Ramu wet nickel laterite mine is expected to produce 31,150 tonnes of nickel and 3300t of cobalt per annum in a high-grade concentrate over a 20-year mine life.

However, the resources could also potentially support mining for a further 15-20 years.