Beiträge von casapustalemgo
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Panguna Landowners call for their 17.4% in BCL shares
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21 January 2021 210121 NINE LAND OWNER GROUPS WANT PANGUNA MINE TO RE-OPENED NEW DAWN FM NEWS Patrick Heromate a leader and member of one of the nine Panguna Landowners Association members groups says he and his association had a meeting on Monday and have come up with some ways in which Bougainvilleans can help our government gain revenue for our region. Mr Heromate says this is a message to the ABG government. The nine landowners say they would like to meet with the ABG and talk about re-opening Panguna mine. And discuss some ways in which this can be done without involving foreigners. According to him there are terms & conditions that the ABG government must comply with. He says this is not going to be easy and the final decision must not come from only one person but from everyone. Moreover, if the mining does re-open, they want locals to be engaged in working and not getting outsiders to work for us. This way, people can benefit from the mine. Mr Heromate also says the association does not want what repetition from 1987 but a change for Bougainville. And most importantly, they want the BCL Company owned by Bougainvilleans start up the re-opening process.. These landowners say they want Bougainville to be ready for Independence and this is one way. They also call on the government to start preparing educated people to help operate the mine. Ends………
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Referendum zur Unabhängigkeit ist am WE gestartet u. dauert bis zum 7 Dez. Allgemein ist davon auszugehen dass die Bouggys für die Unabhängigkeit stimmen werden. Momentan wird das ABG noch von PNG alimentiert. Um finanziell auf eigenen Füssen zu stehen führt kein Weg an der Wiedereröffnung der Pangunamine vorbei.
Heute mit + 1.5 Mill. Shares das grösste Vol seit Jahren in AU
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Bougainville President John Momis said at the weekend the agreement would have paved way for further steps in preparations for the Panguna mine reopening.
He said that is because they have other factions who came into the plsy of things that perhaps caused difficulties for themselves. They have asked the ABG to give them time to sort themselves out and come back to us and then we will proceed from there.
“And we have agreed and are giving them time to organise and hopefully the landowners who have prevented us will come to a consensus to the mine opening because not opening the mine may not be in the best interest of Bougainville or in the best interest of landowners or in the best interest of anyone,” Mr Momis said.
He said the government was committed to ensure that revenue raising is possible so that Bougainville could not reach fiscal self-reliance level and independence cannot happen without Panguna mine opening and even if the national government and ABG agree for Bougainville to be independent then due to the current financial situation, that will not be possible.
“We may agree on independence but it may take another five or six years or even ten years to actually do the things necessary.
“I was surprised because I thought that enough was done to secure the commitments but I am not disappointed in a sense that this has happened before and it has happened in an area consistently from Central Bougainville that is a worry because other regions the people are much more reasonable and amenable to discussions and negotiations,” he said -
<p>
</p>[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/sites…n%20protest%20500wide.jpg]Mothers and daughters at the Panguna mine protest on Friday. Image: Loop PNG
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Item: 9907
ARAWA (Asia Pacific Report/Pacific Media Watch
Panguna women protesters have blockaded the copper mine to prevent the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the Bougainville government with the company and also won a court injunction.
[Blockierte Grafik: https://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/PNG-Elections-logo-300wide.png]
Justice Kandakasi ordered in the Waigani National Court on Friday that the MOA cannot be signed until further notice.
Philip Miriori, chairman of the Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowners Inc., welcomed the restraining order.
He said it was good to see that protection from “unjust deprivation of property” under Section 53 of the Constitution of PNG – and preserved in the Constitution of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (Section 180) as adopted by the Bougainville Constituent Assembly at Buin on 12 November 2004 – was being enforced.
The Bougainville Freedom Movement also congratulated the women of Bougainville and their supporters for stopping the Bougainville government on Friday from signing a new agreement for Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) to reopen the Panguna mine.
[Blockierte Grafik: https://asiapacificreport.nz/w…6th-June-2017-300tall.jpg]The National Court order supporting the Panguna women landowners seeking to block Bougainville Copper Limited. Image: PMC
“The handpicked BCL landowners who were supposed to sign the agreement for the company were brought to a halt, thanks to the road block protest held on Friday,” said BFM’s Vikki John.
The Panguna mine was abandoned by in 1989 after frustration by landowners erupted into a decade-long armed uprising and a push for Bougainville independence from Papua New Guinea.
‘Seven sisters’ roadblock
Loop PNG reports: “The impenetrable roadblock was led by women chief from the ‘seven sisters’ areas in Central Bougainville.
The mothers, together with their daughters, youths, ex-combatants and Bougainville hardliners, set up the roadblock, which started on Thursday night and lasted throughout Friday. They refused to move for passing vehicles or negotiating team.
“Their message was simple: ‘No BCL, No Mining’.
A woman chief from Guava Village, Maggie Mirau Nombo, and a chief from Arawa and Pirurari, Kavatai Baria, said their land was their ‘Mother’, who provided their everyday needs and no one was allowed to exploit her.
“Chief Maggie, who is a former primary school teacher, said how could those wanting to sign the MOA conduct such an act of injustice?
“She said this would never happen again because they had suffered enough from all the injustice that had been brought on by BCL when it was in operation.
“She said God had heard the cry of the Bougainville women, and justice would prevail:
“As long as I am the Chief from Panguna and Guava Village and owner of my land, BCL is not welcome. This is the company that has killed our sons and daughters. ABG has to stop ignoring the cries of the women and take note that BCL is never allowed to come back to Panguna, and this is final and it is not negotiable,” she said.
[/quote]“Chief Kavatai also reminded everyone that ‘when God closes a door, no one can open it, and if God opens a door, no one can close it’.
“Panguna Mine was closed by God and if anyone was trying to reopen the mine when it wasn’t God’s timing, then they had better watch out because they were fighting against a big God.
“Because of the strong opposition by the women, youths and Bougainville hardliners, the high-powered ABG delegation, led by President John Momis, returned to Buka on Friday afternoon without signing the MOA.”
The Papua New Guinea 2017 general election is June 24 until July 8. -
Momentan sieht es ja sehr gut aus, am 16 soll das MoA von allen Parteien unterzeichnet werden.
Kurs u. Vol steigen rasant an.
Vielleicht endlich der Durchbruch. ;-))
https://www.facebook.com/group…leforum/1489213817810284/
Talks on Bougainveille copper mine looks good
Bougainville Copper
Limited (BCL) has welcomed reports of strong support among Panguna
landowners and the wider community for its participation in a new mining
project.June 13, 2017
Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL)
has welcomed reports of strong support among Panguna landowners and the
wider community for its participation in a new mining project.
BCL chairman Robert Burns said the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG)
had confirmed that ministerial forums held at Panguna and Arawa last
week were well-attended and had demonstrated majority support.
“We are very encouraged by these developments, which reflect the levels of
support, we have experienced on the ground during our own direct
interactions with landowners and other stakeholders,” he said.
“Notwithstanding, we of course acknowledge that there are people with differing views,
and these are to be respected. We are very committed to community
engagement and invite reasonable dialogue.”
“We also look forward to the prospect of a Memorandum of Agreement
being finalised between landowners and the ABG.”
“This would open the way for further steps to be taken towards realising the
longer term goal of renewing mining,” Mr Burns said.
Through its ongoing engagement with landowners in mining areas, BCL also continues
to make progress toward finalising land occupation fees and finish
payments outstanding from 1990. In addition, a joint steering
committee is being formed with the backing of the ABG and national
government. It will be instrumental in recommending future steps to
overcoming hurdles and will be representative of all key stakeholders,
including landowners and women of Panguna.“
I am also pleased to confirm that we are in the process of finalising
arrangements to establish a full-time presence in Bougainville with the
recent appointment of a locally-based manager and the opening of an
office in Buka imminent,” Mr Burns said.postcourier.com.pg/talks-bougainveille-copper-mine-looks-good/
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http://www.radionz.co.nz/inter…alk-mining-with-rio-tinto
Updated at 6:29 am today
Bougainville's re-elected president says one of his
first moves will be talking with Rio Tinto on whether it is interested
in re-opening the Panguna mine.John Momis won a resounding victory after counting in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region was completed at the weekend.
Bougainville is to conduct a vote on possible independence before
2020 and Mr Momis says mining is the only way to quickly achieve the
necessary fiscal self-reliance required before then.He wants to talk with Rio Tinto first because they ran the Panguna
mine, through Bougainville Copper Ltd, before the Bougainville Conflict."Hoping we can come to an agreement to start taking some practical
steps to re-open the mine, but if Rio Tinto chooses not to engage us
then we have other options to look at."President elect John Momis.
Rio Tinto has indicated it is reviewing its position after the outgoing government passed a new mining law.
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President Momis has been informed of whatever talks we have with
other shareholders of BCL, only because the State is a second biggest
shareholder. My statement in Arawa and Panguna remain very relevant
today, that there are no mine opening talks until landowners and the
people of Bougainville are ready.
President Momis should stop blaming the Papua New Guinea
Government for all that is going wrong in Bougainville and accept some
responsibility as he has been in charge for many years now.”Comment from the Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP,
following the release of a statement by President John Momis of the
Autonomous Region of Bougainville relating to Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) shares:“The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has been deeply
concerned at the possibility that Rio and PNG might be contemplating
trading shares in BCL. The only valuable asset that BCL has is its
limited rights over minerals at Panguna. Trading in Bougainville’s
minerals between Rio and the Australian colonial Administration occurred
in the 1960s, without any reference to Bougainville. We cannot allow a
new form of colonial dealings in Bougainville’s resources to occur.”President John Momis has called for the Prime Minister
O’Neill and the global mining giant , Rio Tinto, to reveal any dealings
between PNG and Rio Tinto in Rio Tinto’s shares in Bougainville Copper
Ltd (BCL). Rio Tinto is the majority shareholder in BCL, with 53 per
cent equity. In August 2014, Rio Tinto announced a review of its
investment in BCL.“The Government of Papua New Guinea is a shareholder in Bougainville Copper Limited. Mr O’Neil went on to say
“We have had discussions with other shareholders of BCL on a range of
issues including the reopening of the Mine and disposal of shares by
existing shareholders including Rio Tinto.“There are no secret deals and we are disappointed that President
Momis is trying use this issue at the time of the election that is
taking place today.[Blockierte Grafik: https://bougainvillenews.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/photo2.jpg?w=1202&h=684]
My statement in Arawa and Paguna remain very relevant today, that
there are no mine opening talks until landowners and the people of
Bougainville are ready. -
Momis wants to re-open Panguna mine
Published: 14 April 2015
Es wird spannend, Steuerstreit mit PNG beigelegt,Rückzahlungszusagen,Übernahmegerüchte,Versöhnungsfeiern,Präsidentschaftswahlen,Unabhängigkeitsbestrebungen Bougs.
Ein kontinuierlicher Vol. u. Kursanstieg über die letzten Wochen lässt eine positive Stimmung erkennen. Die Tiefs sollten überwunden sein.BUKA, (PNG LOOP) - If Bougainville’s caretaker president John
Momis is re-elected in next month’s elections his government will
immediately begin discussions on re-opening the Panguna mine.The huge mine was the catalyst for the civil war that engulfed the Papua New Guinea autonomous region for much of the 1990s.
Momis says a resumption of mining is the only way Bougainville can
become economically viable and meet the conditions for a referendum on
independence which must be held by 2020.He says with the new Mining Law now in place guaranteeing local
landowners control of their resources he is confident Bougainville can
safely resume mining.“After the election we will be taking immediate steps to talk to Rio
Tinto [the parent company of Bougainville Copper Ltd, which had operated
the Panguna mine]. We will find out whether they are interested. If
they are not we will try another company. Look you know, we can try
others, said Momis“The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has been deeply concerned
at the possibility that Rio and PNG might be contemplating trading
shares in BCL. The only valuable asset that BCL has is its limited
rights over minerals at Panguna. Trading in Bougainville’s minerals
between Rio and the Australian colonial Administration occurred in the
1960s, without any reference to Bougainville. We cannot allow a new form
of colonial dealings in Bougainville’s resources to occur.”President
John Momis has called for the Prime Minister O’Neill and the global
mining giant , Rio Tinto, to reveal any dealings between PNG and Rio
Tinto in Rio Tinto’s shares in Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL).Rio
Tinto is the majority shareholder in BCL, with 53 per cent equity. In
August 2014, Rio Tinto announced a review of its investment in BCL.The President said:
“For
over a year now, Prime Minister O’Neill has expressed interest in the
National Government taking control of BCL. He proposes that PNG operate
the Panguna mine in Bougainville in the same way it operates the Ok Tedi
mine. The Prime Minister expressed that view to me early in 2014, and
to members of the Bougainville group known as the Me’ekamui Government
of Unity.“In 2014 I made two strong statements against the Prime
Minister’s proposal, the most recent dated 11 December. In that
statement, and in a letter to the Prime Minister of 11 December, I made
it clear that all decisions about mining in Bougainville must be made by
the Autonomous Bougainville Government. I also spelt out that it would
be completely unacceptable to Bougainvilleans for the National
Government operate the Panguna mine.“The
Prime Minister replied in a letter dated January, but not received by
me till late March. Amongst other things he said the National Government
had no intention of taking control of the Panguna Mine.“But as
yet unconfirmed information available to me indicates that the National
Government may be planning to purchase the Rio Tinto 53 per cent share
in BCL. The National Government has always held 19.3 per cent of the BCL
shares, and so if it takes Rio’s shares it would own over 72 of the
equity.“On 20th March, I wrote to BCL, seeking advice from
either BCL or Rio Tinto, about the whether such share transactions
between Rio and PNG were under discussion or preparation. I received a
brief reply from Rio, addressed to BCL but passed on to me, dated 23
March.The letter simply stated that ‘Rio Tinto … was reviewing
its options with respect to its stake in Bougainville Copper Limited.
This review is continuing.’“The Autonomous Bougainville
Government (ABG) has been deeply concerned at the possibility that Rio
and PNG might be contemplating trading shares in BCL. The only valuable
asset that BCL has is its limited rights over minerals at Panguna.
Trading in Bougainville’s minerals between Rio and the Australian
colonial Administration occurred in the 1960s, without any reference to
Bougainville. We cannot allow a new form of colonial dealings in
Bougainville’s resources to occur.“Secret dealings of this kind
are completely unacceptable to the people of Bougainville and so the
ABG. It would be equally unacceptable to the people of Bougainville for
the National Government to try to take control of Panguna. As I said in
my public statement in December: ‘Any attempt by the National Government
to control mining in Bougainville could cause Bougainvilleans to lose
all faith in the BPA (Bougainville Peace Agreement). Many would refuse
to work with the National Government any more. They would want immediate
independence. It would be a recipe for undermining, perhaps even
destroying, support for the BPA.’President Momis said that as a
result of the gravely serious issues involved, he was now calling on
both the Prime Minister and Rio Tinto to clarify the position: ‘They
must state publicly and clearly whether or not either of them is
planning, or is in any way involved, in preparing for or conducting, any
transaction involving transfer of Rio Tinto’s shares in BCL, either to
the PNG Government or to any entity controlled by or involving PNG’.The
President also said that as a result of ABG mining laws passed in
August 2014 and March 2015, the only legal right BCL has in Bougainville
is an exploration licence over the former Special Mining Lease at
Panguna. He said:“That exploration licence is intended to put
BCL in the same position as any exploration licence holder that has
completed exploration, and wants to apply for an negotiate about
possible grant of a mining licence. It gives BCL a right to negotiate
the conditions on which it might be allowed to resume mining, but only
if it gets permission from both customary landowners and the ABG.“It
is normal for mining laws to allow withdrawal of an exploration licence
if there are any commercial dealings in the licence in the first two
years after it is granted. In passing the Bougainville Mining Act 2015
in March, the ABG House of Representatives amended section 112 of the
Act to make it clear that dealings in more than 25 per cent of the
shares in any company holding an exploration licence will also allow
withdrawal of the licence.“Both Rio Tinto and the Prime Minister
need to be aware that transfer of Rio’s shares in BCL in the two years
since BCL’s exploration licence came into operation, in August 2014,
will result in action to withdraw that licence. In the meantime, I call
on them to clarify the issues I am raising in this statement”Chief John. L. Momis
Dazu der chin. Übernahmeversuch von Frieda-Riverr
April 15, 2015 · 1:23 pm
Foreigners barter for control of Frieda river mine while landowners have no say
Big profits to be made in this foreign auction of PNG resources – but none of that money will filter back to PNG…
Will the Chinese or the Australian's get to destroy the Frieda river?Will the Chinese or the Australian’s get to destroy the Frieda river?
PanAust Rejects New A$1.1 Billion Guangdong Offer as Too Low
James Paton | Bloombeg
PanAust
Ltd. rejected a new bid from China’s Guangdong Rising Assets Management
Co. that valued the copper producer at A$1.1 billion ($840 million) as
too low.Guangdong Rising, PanAust’s largest shareholder, should
pay more than A$1.71 a share if it wants to boost its ownership, the
Brisbane-based company said Wednesday. PanAust rose as much as 0.9
percent to A$1.755 in Sydney trading.“With PanAust’s share price
now trading above the GRAM offer price, it suggests that the market
also agrees with this view,” according to the statement. The PanAust
board is open to talking with the state-owned Chinese investor to
determine whether the two sides can agree on a price, the company said.Guangdong’s
cash offer, 40 percent higher than PanAust’s share price before the bid
last month, is “unconditional and not subject to the board’s
recommendation,” the Chinese company said in a separate statement.The
cash bid in March was unsolicited and made when both the producer’s
shares and copper and gold prices were trading at or near five-year
lows, PanAust said at the time.PanAust, seeking to develop one
of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits at Frieda
River in Papua New Guinea, last year rejected Guangdong Rising’s
previous offer of A$2.30 a share -
u. das bevor diese Press-Release publiziert wurde.Kein Verkaufsdruck, ein (fast) leeres Orderbuch auf der Verkäuferseite.
http://210.193.160.7/netwealth2/depth/boc
Mal sehen wie es an der ASX heute Nacht weitergeht.
Release Date: 02/04/15 18:57
Summary: Letter to Shareholders Taxation Mediation -
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Events of Significance to June 30, 2013
The first half of 2013
has been notable for the increasing alignment of all key stakeholders
behind the move to reâ€start the Panguna mine.A series of five
regional forums instigated by the Autonomous Bougainville Government has
been completed, engaging all communities from the Atolls ans Buka, to
Arawa, and Buin. The sixth forum is to be held in Panguna and is planned
for late August.
Strong support for the reâ€opening of the mine has been reported.
Exâ€combatants
actively participated in this forum process, and are engaged with
President John Momis regarding a reâ€start of mining on Bougainville, and
the restoration of normalcy to civil society.It has been
reported that President Momis and former militant Sam Kauona have
reconciled, and reached agreement on mutually acceptable terms of ABG
mining legislation, and three significant exâ€combatant leaders have also
settled longâ€standing disputes between themselves, and agreed to allow
safe passage to visitors and investors to formerly closed areas.At
the same time, four meetings of the Joint Panguna Negotiation
Coâ€ordination Committee [JCC] have been held, facilitating preparations
for formal mine redevelopment processes, and the scoping and conduct of
baseline social, economic and environmental studies. This committee has
high level representation from the Governments of PNG and Bougainville,
as well as the Landowners and BCL, with inputs from agencies including
the United Nations Environment Program.Issues
being addressed with the formallyâ€constituted United Panguna Mine
Affected Landowner Association include Bel Kol (reconciliation
ceremonies), outstanding 1989/90 compensation payments, landowner
relocation and resettlement, and skills training for future mining
operations.It is anticipated that the completion of the symbolic
Bel Kol process will be followed by a formal invitation from the ABG,
Landowners and Exâ€combatants to BCL, to reâ€establish an office on
Bougainville. This process is scheduled for the latter half of the year.
BCL’s
upgraded Order of Magnitude Study has been was compiled to provide
stakeholders with some general backgrounding on the OMS (following BCL’s
announcement of its completion at the April AGM), study assumptions and
other relevant information. Presentations have been given to:• President Momis and the Bougainville Executive Committee (BEC)
• Joint Panguna Negotiation Coordination Committee (JCC)
• Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) and the Department of Mineral Policy
and Geoâ€hazards.
•
Government diplomats from the Australian, New Zealand, United Kingdom,
and the United States governments, as well as potential development
partners. -
Da decken sich wohl Friends & Family der in die Verhandlungen Involvierten ein ;-))
PricesDateOpenHighLowCloseVolumeAdj Close*
17 Jul 20130.400.450.400.45415,1000.4516 Jul 20130.400.400.400.40315,0000.4015 Jul 20130.400.400.400.40474,2000.4012 Jul 20130.400.410.400.41330,7000.4111 Jul 20130.400.400.380.40169,7000.4010 Jul 20130.400.400.400.4073,2000.409 Jul 20130.400.400.400.4055,0000.408 Jul 20130.400.400.390.40135,2000.405 Jul 20130.400.400.400.40113,3000.404 Jul 20130.400.430.400.4387,3000.433 Jul 20130.410.410.400.40161,7000.402 Jul 20130.430.430.410.42159,6000.421 Jul 20130.430.430.430.43124,4000.4328 Jun 20130.430.430.410.43117,4000.4327 Jun 20130.450.450.450.4500.4526 Jun 20130.450.450.450.4515,5000.4525 Jun 20130.460.460.450.458,8000.4524 Jun 20130.460.460.460.465,2000.4621 Jun 20130.480.480.460.4627,6000.4620 Jun 20130.460.460.460.466,5000.4619 Jun 20130.470.490.450.452,1000.4518 Jun 20130.460.470.450.4745,3000.4717 Jun 20130.470.470.470.4700.4714 Jun 20130.490.490.470.4755,3000.4713 Jun 20130.500.500.480.49135,0000.4912 Jun 20130.500.500.500.50346,0000.5011 Jun 20130.500.500.490.5074,7000.5010 Jun 20130.490.490.490.4900.497 Jun 20130.490.490.490.492,0000.496 Jun 20130.500.500.500.5043,5000.505 Jun 20130.480.480.480.4833,4000.484 Jun 20130.500.500.470.4822,1000.483 Jun 20130.500.500.500.502,0000.50 -
http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa…oad-for-bougainville.html
LEONARD FONG ROKA
BOUGAINVILLE’S
LEADERS AND political authorities and are looking at the Panguna
District – site of the former copper and gold mine - as the catalyst for
an economic leap for the autonomous region of Papua New Guinea in the
north of the Solomon Islands archipelago.
In terms of natural
resources, Bougainville is the largest and the richest island of the
Solomon archipelago. In 1899 it became part of the German New Guinea
colonial administration that used it as the launching pad for its New
Guinea civilising effort taken over by the Australians after World War
I.In the 1960s, as the
colonial ruler, Australia, preparing its New Guinea territory for
nationhood, approved the development of the Panguna mine that became an
important factor triggering the Bougainvillean struggle for self
determination since.Bougainville ended up part
of the independent PNG state in 1975; but the accommodation kept PNG
quaking as the protests in Bougainville continued.In 1988, after all the
years of dissatisfaction and peaceful protest by Bougainvilleans, the
Panguna mine became the catalyst of action to tear down PNG’s
exploitative rule of the Solomon Island people of Bougainville.A decade later, with the
dawn of the Bougainville peace process, the Panguna District leadership
played a significant role in finding a solution to the conflict that had
sacrificed the lives of some 15,000 Bougainvilleans and much property
destruction.But internal politics in the Kieta area affected progress in development and peace-building for the Central Bougainville region.
The conflict had being
complicated and without much room for understanding and negotiation;
thus it had divided the people. Kieta had seen factions led by men like
Chris Uma, Moses Pipiro and Ishmael Toroama.With Bougainvillean
leaders looking at the Panguna mine as the economic driver for the
future development of Bougainville after the referendum planned
2015-2019, there are moves by the people across Bougainville calling for
the re-opening of the mine.There is evidence that this is creating change in the hearts and minds of the Panguna people.
A few months ago, leaders
in Panguna created the Panguna Peace Building Strategy (PPBS) that is
now playing significant roles in uniting the people of the District.Operating under the
Panguna District Administration, the strategy now oversees the peoples’
views on mining in the villages not only of Panguna but across many
areas of Central Bougainville and South Bougainville’s Bana District.Landowners understand what
the leaders of the Autonomous Bougainville Government want. Last week,
all Panguna mine site landowners from Pirurari, Dapera, Moroni and Guava
met in Panguna with the Panguna Peace Building Strategy to voice their
concerns over the re-opening issue.The landowners said they
are willing to welcome mining to help finance the compensation for lives
and property lost in Bougainville.Furthermore, they are
willing to allow mining for economic recovery and strengthening of
Bougainville independence. To them innocent Bougainvilleans died for
independence and this challenge must be met.The gathering also heard
that, before mining resumes, the ABG and whoever is the mining company
should let them know about their future life as a result of mining
operations: issues such as automatic employment and good compensation or
royalties.Their most pressing demand was to close the door to all non-Bougainvilleans.
Landowners also wanted a
new waste disposal system. They don’t want gravel stockpiled on the
dumps already in existence and they do want environment-friendly
management of waste from the concentrator mills down the Tumpusiong
Valley and in the sea in South Bougainville.The meeting heard that the
new mining venture must grant all mine sub-contracts for catering, tyre
services and other services to Bougainvilleans and allow no firm
outside Bougainville to tender.They said Bougainvilleans are innovative people so the miner should come first with education for Bougainvilleans.
The landowners want to see
every village across Bougainville connected by sealed roads; every
river to have permanent bridges; and every island community to have a
jetty. These improvements are what the mining company should think about
before talking about re-opening the mine.One great breakthrough for
the Panguna people is the conflict between Bougainville Revolutionary
Army leaders, Ishmael Toroama, Chris Uma and Moses Pipiro, which is
scheduled for reconciliation late this month.This trio with their
followers have long kept the people divided politically and have also
regularly fought each other over their own personal interests, mostly
over the Panguna mine site and money from scrap metal and government
projects.In line with this, ABG President Dr John Momis will soon be visiting Guava Village for the first time as Bougainville president.
These events certainly indicate that Bougainville is moving and not stagnant.
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http://www.businessadvantagepn…s-president-bougainville/
9 Jul 2013 by Business Advantage Leave a Comment
The President of Bougainville, John Momis, wants work on
restarting the giant Panguna gold and copper mine to begin later this
year. In this exclusive interview with Business Advantage PNG, he outlines the steps now needed to restart operations.[Blockierte Grafik: http://www.businessadvantagepng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/John_Momis_web-300x154.jpg]Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): Why do Bougainvilleans now support re-opening the mine?
John Momis (JM): The Panguna Mine was the primary
source of the war, which reduced Bougainville to basics. We need to deal
with it because the Panguna Mine is a mega project. We need the revenue
to be generated from it—revenue for the government as well as income
for the people. So with the way things are going, we don’t have much
option really.We don’t have much money coming from the National Government in terms
of its commitment to allocate adequate funding for reconstruction and
for the big job of creating an autonomous government. I think, once the
mine is open, Bougainville will be very well off, and we can manage to
reconstruct Bougainville and promote sustainable businesses.Zitat‘The former commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary
Army, Sam Kauona, is now on side and in agreement with the need to
re-open the mine.’
With the collaboration of credible partners from outside, the
government itself will have enough money to create a new government. We
also need money to create something that’s sustainable and in accordance
with the principles of good governance and democracy.BAPNG: Is there much opposition among local landowners and Bougainville people to the re-opening of the mine?
JM: There is a little bit of opposition but with
clarification and with our efforts to create awareness, more and more
people are in support: ex-combatants generally, the landowners
themselves and the population in general. So, there is not much
opposition. There is opposition from some quarters, and that is quite
small, due to a lack of understanding.The former commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Sam
Kauona, is now on side and in agreement with the need to re-open the
mine. He also agrees with the new mining law, which I expect the
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) to pass by September this year.BAPNG: The landowners’ umbrella group is seeking a payment of K10
billion (US$4.45 billion). How critical is that before any real work
gets under way? Does it have to be in cash or could it be in some other
form?JM: No, it doesn’t have to be [in cash]. As a matter
of fact, I am advocating that we should, without too much delay, start
negotiations with Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL) so that they can address
some of the burning issues affecting the landowners whose land and
whose lives have been detrimentally affected. But we can’t do that
unless BCL are given some kind of guarantee that they will be allowed to
operate. So, the sooner we negotiate with them, the better for us.Zitat‘Well, people say that the lease has expired, but
precedents have been set that say that once leases are expired they must
be renewed to the same company, and that is BCL. So, that’s the
assumption we’re working under.’
The K10 billion [that] people are talking about can be provided in
different forms of development assistance to villagers to rebuild their
villages and sort out some of the problems they’ve had as a result of
the mine.It’s not a question of paying K10 billion at one go.
BAPNG: Do you see BCL as the only viable company to re-open the mine
itself, or do you see the possibility of another mining company
competing for the rights?JM: The landowners themselves want BCL. That’s their
declared condition. I don’t necessarily believe BCL is the only one,
but because they legally own the leases, we’ve got to start with them,
and under our own law, BCL will have to meet our conditions. I have also
mentioned to BCL that perhaps there is a place for a third party to be
involved.BAPNG: What role would they have?
JM: A third party may want to take up shares.
BAPNG: The landowners say that the mining lease for BCL to operate
the mine has expired—Rio Tinto has told us that it’s still working on
the assumption that the lease entitlement is still alive. What’s your
understanding of the status of the original lease?JM: Well, people say that the lease has expired, but
precedents have been set that say that once leases are expired they
must be renewed to the same company, and that is BCL. So, that’s the
assumption we’re working under.BAPNG: The landowners’ prerequisites for re-opening the mine
indicate they want to actually own the mining lease and then sublease it
to the mining company. Have we misinterpreted that, and is that viable
anyway?JM: That is an issue that has to be discussed
between us [the ABG] and the [National] Government and the landowners.
Under our new proposed mining law, the landowners own the resources.
They have total ownership of the resources, but the government has the
custodial role. Only the Government can issue licences, both at the
exploration stage and development stage, and the Government is
responsible for governance of benefits. The Government is [also]
responsible for ensuring that environmental impact studies are conducted
so that you know that there are no detrimental impacts on the
environment and the life of the people. So, the issue of whether the
people themselves will own the lease and negotiate is an issue that has
not been discussed in full.BAPNG: What do you regard as critical in order to get the mine up and running again?
JM: Law and order and rule of law–that’s number one.
That is why we’ve spent a lot of time holding forums to allow people to
participate in discussions of important issues including law and order,
ownership, distribution of benefits and, of course, environmental
impacts on the land.Getting all the different factions together—landowners,
ex-combatants, other citizens of Bougainville and the government—is
crucially important. Once we come to a consensus, then people will have a
sense of ownership of the project, and this also extends to whichever
mining company that finally agrees to participate under our conditions.Zitat‘We have had positive discussions with executives from
BCL, but we now have to sensitise Rio Tinto executives in London about
the way in which we want to proceed.’
We’ve already started the initial discussions with BCL about some of
the issues that must be resolved before they start their construction
work. It has done a study of the order of magnitude that seems to be
very attractive and confirms that currently the mine is a mega project.BAPNG: BCL estimates it could take five years to rehabilitate the
environment and conditions in order to actually get the mine operating
again. Do you see the length of time as a problem?JM: For us, we need to start generating revenue as soon as possible.We
have a time line—2015 and onwards is the ideal window. We have to
conduct a referendum to determine our final political status. The
historic moment of designing our future is imminent and we need money to
achieve that. Procrastinating on opening the mine, even five years, is a
bit far. We must come to an agreement to allow BCL to come and set up
their liaison office in Arawa to deal with some of the practical
problems, which are not immense, which are not insurmountable, to enable
BCL to start spending money on reconstruction work, and that will bring
a lot of income to the people and revenue to the ABG, and I think that
is what we need.People, I think, misunderstand that you must wait for the production phase. Reconstruction is where companies spend a lot of money and that’s what we want. We don’t want to procrastinate on that.
BAPNG: So would you like to see BCL physically return by the end of this year? Can you see it happening?
JM: That’s correct, yes. We will go for that. Of
course, we have to take precautions. We have to do things right, and
hence the lengthy period of consultation we’ve been having. That should
iron out a lot of the problems and help us to come to a consensus to
decide what to do.We have had positive discussions with executives from BCL, but we now
have to sensitise Rio Tinto executives in London about the way in which
we want to proceed. So far, we have been successful in taking a
consensual approach towards restarting the mine.
