When the Basamuk ferry swung around the bay and the towering structures of the processing plant rose above the wharf, Elisha Wak stood speechless, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
The sight before him was an awe-inspiring testament to human ingenuity—steel beams reaching for the sky, colossal tanks gleaming in the sunlight, and a wharf bustling with activity. This was not just another industrial site; it was the place where Elisha’s four long years of hard work and dedication were about to come to fruition.
Wak is a mix of Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces, 22 years old and about 200cm tall and carries a fine built body structure showing his strong youth charisma that is ready to tackle the work challenges before him.
As the ferry docked, he swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his belongings and the weight of his dreams. The adrenaline coursed through him as he took his first steps onto the solid cement walkway of the dock. Stampeding memories of sleepless nights flickered through his mind; hours spent poring over textbooks, countless projects that tested his resolve, and the mentors who had encouraged him along the way now felt palpable in this moment of triumph.
Basamuk would be his home for the next two years. The Ramu NiCo Graduate Development Scheme program was not just a stepping stone in his career; it was a validation of his efforts and aspirations. Elisha had always been fascinated by the mechanics of things, the way machines operated like finely tuned instruments in a symphony. His mechanical engineering education had equipped him with the theoretical knowledge he needed, but this was different. Here, in Basamuk, he could apply what he had learned in the classroom to real-world challenges.
As he walked towards the plant, Elisha’s thoughts drifted back to his childhood. Growing up in a small village, he had always dreamt of breaking barriers. His parents, though humble breadwinners of his family in their own capacities, instilled in him the importance of education and the belief that he could achieve anything he set his mind to. “You have the power to change your world,” his mother would often say. Those words resonated in his heart as he stepped into this new chapter of his life.
Wak and seven others under the same program as he were taken to the workers’ lodgement and were given rooms that is their tiny home for the next 24 months.
On the first day of work, he clanged and the whir of machinery greeted him as he entered the plant, a cacophony that felt like music to his ears.
Wak was assigned to the power plant located inside the Chinese owned world class Basamuk refinery. His job is to monitor power circulation in the refinery, a very important work that ensures its smooth operation.
Working among Chinese colleagues and supervisors was challenging for Wak at first but as time goes by, that bearrier slowly unleashes and understanding and communication flow smoothly in its own way.
Wak finds Ramu NiCo a stepping stone to beginners on the job look out with its ever ready obligation to train the human resources of Papua New Guinea.
“Coming straight out of the classroom and walking right into an international mining company sounds expensive to me and yes the knowledge and skills I’ve learnt so far is priceless,” he said nodding to confirm his approval.
Wak commended Ramu NiCo for the initiative it took to recruit and train the future workforce of this country and applauded the GDS program for its well outlined and planned strategy to keep the Ramu NiCo workforce intact.
Ramu NiCo has initiated the GDS program to create a pool of employees to draw from when it needs future experts from various fields of work.
Elisha Wak pictured behind his working station at the power plant in Basamuk refinery