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Nik Zuks, bankrupt, pans for Bougainvillean gold

Wyndale Resources has considerable ambitions on the island, contingent on the man running them paying off his Australian creditors in time.

Myriam RobinSenior writer

Updated Feb 13, 2023 – 5.43pm, first published at 5.24pm

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The stampede for the considerable mineral riches of the now-Autonomous Region of Bougainville has drawn a colourful collection of entrepreneurs and speculators. One of whom is Perth-based mining identity Nikolajs Zuks.

Zuks was at one point the holder of a $475 million iron ore fortune. On paper, at least. But as of February 2021, he’s been, in Australia, bankrupt.

Myriam Robin is a senior writer based in the Melbourne newsroom. She has previously been a Rear Window columnist and editor, and before that reported on financial markets and media.