Madang-based University Students’ Perspectives on the Impacts of the Ramu NiCo Mine in PNG

Abstract

In 2023, as a pilot research project, the authors surveyed 114 current and former students of Divine Word University in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG), where the Ramu NiCo mine project is located. A total of 33 questions were asked, covering the participants’ background information, especially in relation to the mine project, and their views of Ramu NiCo’s corporate social responsibilities (CSRs) and PNG–China relations. The survey was conducted online via SurveyMonkey and the students were granted anonymity to protect their privacy. Currently, Western powers are competing with China for influence in the Pacific, and Pacific Island states are also closely watching China’s activities in their region. This research aims to contribute to the debates on China. It reveals some local concerns about Ramu NiCo’s CSRs and the limited benefits local communities have received so far.