The Governor of Papua New Guinea's Madang province says he's in dialogue with both sides of a growing dispute around the Ramu nickel project.
Sir Arnold Amet says the upcoming review of the project's Memorandum of Agreement should address most of the grievances landowners are protesting over.
Their grievances include their lack of participation in spin-off business, the employment of heavily armed Chinese security guards, and work-place discrimination.
The firm running the Ramu project, the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Company, held crisis talks on Tuesday with local chiefs in Madang town over the grievances.
The Governor, Sir Arnold Amet, says he will push for ongoing dialogue until the review in March.
"We've had dialogue with the Chinese company officials and the landowner company officials and my understanding is that some progress has been made. We are awaiting a review and update on the status of employees and the issues raised previously."
Sir Arnold Amet.
