NICKEL Enterprise SI Ltd, NESI for short, would use its good relations built over the years with landowners to move its proposed investment in West Rennell forward, the company has announced.
The company made the announcement in response to claims that some 250 landowners on West Rennell have revoked their support for a Surface Access Agreement (SAA) the landowners have signed with the company.
“We have built good relationship with the landowners in our past operations and we are confident our relationship will power us through this time around. That’s why we (NESI) pledge to undertake all the dues,” NESI told Solomon Star in an interview at the weekend.
“No other miners or investors would have undertaken all the dues or outstanding with Bintang Mining Solomon Islands (BMSI) to the landowners. To show our sincerity and commitment, NESI has submitted an undertaking in a letter to the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification when we applied for Prospecting Licenses three years ago,” the company said.
NESI said it is aware the move to revoke the SAA by some landowners was instigated by Premier Derek Pongi, pictured, and the new Member of Parliament (MP) Hon Tuhaika John Jnr.
In the weekend interview NESI outlined three areas which would be the focus of its operation in the way forward. These include but not limited to:
- NESI will continue paying the SAA fees to West Rennell landowners both in Honiara and in West Rennell;
- NESI will continue its environmental assistance program on West Rennell. This began last year when it introduced an extensive eradication and control program to stop the spread of the invasive Giant African Snail (GAS) in West Rennell; and
- NESI will address all outstanding arrears incurred by BMSI on Renbel.
“That is our commitment to the people of West Rennell and the government,” a NESI spokesman told Solomon Star.
The spokesman said almost everyone in the community came to help.
“NESI did this work because it knew the Provincial Government did not have the financial resources to do it. We were happy to do it, and we did because it is for the common good,” the spokesman said.
By Alfred Sasako
