A Papua New Guinea National Court Judge is today expected to decide whether legal action to stop an offshore tailings disposal system being built from Madang Province's Ramu nickel mine can proceed.
After taking out an injunction stopping the Chinese owned nickel producer, Ramu NiCo's construction earlier this year, the three landowners, who are plaintiffs in the case, now want to withdraw their bid.
However, before Justice David Cannings can lift the injunction, he is expected to rule on an application by the landowners' former lawyer to have a new plaintiff join the action.
An activist from the NGO Act Now, Effrey Dademo, says Louis Medaing represents two clans in the landowner area affected by the planned development.
"Yesterday, the lawyers for the company and the state actually insisted that they cross-examine Medaing, basically to establish his standing, his authority to represent the Tong and Ongeg clans."
Effrey Dademo of Act Now
