Tropu Warawai is one of the few welders of Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited (RNML) who worked and saw the Basamuk Refinery construction took its shape to the current day.
According to Warawai, it was a time-lapse for him who had worked during the construction of some of RNML major facilities for the refinery as a welder.
Ramu NiCo is the only nickel and cobalt mine in the country that started its construction phase.
With the vast need to start production in 2012, the Ramu Nickel and Cobalt Project in Madang commenced its construction phase in 2008 in both Kurumbukari mine and the Basamuk refinery project sites. The two project sites were connected by the construction of the 135 kilometer pipeline that runs from Kurumbukari in the Usino Bundi district to Basamuk in the Raicoast district of Madang province.
During the period, Tropu Warawai was stationed at Basamuk Refinery and had his hand print on some of the major infrastructures of the refinery that now stands tall today.
The 44 year old Warawai joined Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited in 2008 and was engaged with the Civil Engineering Department to work on the foundation of the now nationally recognized Basamuk Refinery and worked his legacy as one of the few people who saw and worked on the massive development at Basamuk.
Originally from Bilbil Village in Madang district, Madang Province, Warawai didn’t continue his education into high school in 1995.
In 1996 he had to rethink his approach in education and did his matriculation at the Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) center while living in his humble village. After completing grades 7 & 8 at FODE center, Warawai was selected to Tusbab High school in Madang town to do his Grade 10 and after that he was later selected to study at Lae Technical College where he first took plumbing and later switched to welding.
“I thank God for his blessing and glory for opening the doors for me when the education system could not allow me to continue to grades seven and eight,” Warawai said.
He was among the team that constructed the seawall at the Basamuk wharf, the foundation of the refinery Administration & Health, Safety and Environment Building Complex (HSE), the lime stone crusher, the acid plant, the water treatment plant, etc.
Warawai was nick named “Hatwok man” or “the man that did much” worked at Basamuk Refinery for 3 years ( 2008 – 2011 ) during the construction and stayed till the company made its first operation in 2011 and he resigned due to family obligations.
He said when he left the company, he was pleased to hear that in 2012 the company made its first production shipment of full production of the mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) from the refinery he had worked on and was very proud.
“I came back to Basamuk Refinery in 2022 and now I am working with the FixPlant Department,” Warawai said.
Today, there are only 6 employees who worked with him during the construction phase of Ramu NiCo refinery plant in Basamuk that are currently working.
He said the geography of the now Basamuk Refinery and Company Camp was a swampy vegetation and they cleared the swamp and laid a solid foundation for all the major infrastructures that are seen today.
Warawai’s story serves as a challenge to Papua New Guineans who think the education system failed them and gave up on their hopes for better future.
The welding specialist didn’t stop when the education stopped him but instead he sneaked through the secret door most drop outs don’t want to go through to continue their education, and that is the Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE). Warawai enrolled at the FODE Centre in Madang and continued his education up to Grade 10 when the system accepted him again at Lae Technical College carved him into a fine welder who physically has hand prints on the Ramu NiCo multi million infrastructures at Basamuk.
Indeed Warawai deserves the nickname “Hatwok Man” or “the man that did much” by the current employees of the largest Nickel and Cobalt mine in the Country.
From a grade 6 drop out to a well-respected figure of the only nickel mine in the country is something Warawai is grateful for. The nickname “ Hatwok Man” is welded on the lips of every national employee of Basamuk refinery who knew him.
The time Warawai served with the company has given him the opportunity to come back and work as he was one of those employees of RNML who truly did the foundation work for Basamuk Refinery that is now facilitating employees from different race, culture and background working and putting their knowledge into the same basket for the operation of RNML Basamuk Refinery in Madang Province.
Warawai now has a level 3 certificate in welding and says the refinery is like his baby and will continue to work with Ramu NiCo to see how it grows in the future.
