“I was working as a carpenter and when the construction phase of the mine ended, I saw that I didn’t have a job. To survive I needed to do something, so I adapted to the changes by taking up new trainings in the workplace conducted by Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited (RNML), and over time it brought me up to where I am today,” Canute said.

Canute Alohea who started as an ordinary carpenter, now works as RNML Open Pit Mining Supervisor, said he started as a carpenter during the construction phase of the mine, shifted from carpentry to now working in the mine’s open pit for 10 years. He is now proud to be ranked as the Supervisor of the Open Pit Mine under the Mining Division at the Kurumbukari (KBK) Mine Site.

RNML which manages the Ramu Nickel and Cobalt Project in Madang has always encourages employment development and growth for all its employees since the project went into full production.

This has been a prime focus of the largest Chinese investment in the country and the South Pacific through its nickel and cobalt project in Madang Province, to create a free internationally certified learning environment for its employees to grow their knowledge and skills through various trainings and career development pathway.

This has been shared in a recent interview with current employees at the KBK Mine who are proud as qualified employees with RNML.

Canute Alohea now supervises the KBK Mine Open Pit where the Volvo Articulated Dump Truck offload their loads into the wash-plant, a very important role in the long process of production of nickel and cobalt at RNML’s mining operation.

He said these all happen through the internationally certified trainings that RNML conducted and the sharing of knowledge and skills from coworkers in the mine at Usino Bundi District.

Canute added that RNML gives its employees great opportunity to be well-equipped with multi-skills through training and also creates a culture of sharing knowledge and skills.

“RNML is a very unique company that is unlike other businesses and I want to thank the China Minmetals, Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and RNML for giving this opportunity to us, to venture from different backgrounds to where we are right now. I appreciate RNML for bringing me and other employees up this far,” the supervisor added.

Canute said he went in with one trade qualification (carpentry) but now he has a plate load of experience and multi-skills. He can drive light vehicles, operate VOLVO Articulated dump trucks and machines in the mine.

Canute Alohea who is originally from Sepik was a carpenter and now the current Supervisor of RNML’s Mine Open Pit Operation whose story encourages other RNML employees in different divisions to be open-minded, eager to learn, be committed and give their best to the task assigned to them in order to learn different knowledge and skills, and to live a well-being life for their families.

With his trade certificate, Canute worked in Divine Word University (DWU) Madang Campus as a carpenter and left DWU in 2008 and was engaged in the construction phase of the mine in 2009.

In 2014 he was than selected by RNML to undergo light and heavy vehicle operator’s training and worked at the pit as a Volvo Truck Operator for 5 years and a digger operator for 3 years.

Being ranked as the Supervisor for RNML’s Open Pit Mine at the KBK Mine site in 2022, this year makes the first successful year for Canute Alohea to supervise the Volvo Truck Operators when offloading their loads from the pit to the wash-plant at the mine.

Ends.