Category Bougainville Copper

Aug 19 2026

Bougainville News Alerts : President Toroama issues LSML-01 Panguna preparatory works and feasibility commencement certificate

The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Minister for Mining & Petroleum, Hon. Ishmael Toroama, formally issued the LSML-01 Preparatory Works and Feasibility Commencement Certificate to Bougainville Minerals Limited (BML) in the witness of its preferred approved development partner, Lloyds Panguna Metals & Energy Limited (LPMEL).
The Certificate is issued under the special redevelopment pathway established by the Bougainville Mining (Amendment) Act 2026, marking a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Panguna mine project.
The Commencement Certificate authorises BML to undertake, through its approved development partner LPMEL, an approved programme of preparatory works and feasibility activities. The approved programme will facilitate the technical, engineering, environmental, social and economic works required to properly assess and plan the future redevelopment of the Panguna Mine.
The Commencement Certificate does not authorise construction or commercial production. Those phases will remain subject to separate statutory approvals and the issue of subsequent Commencement Certificates.
President Toroama said the issuance of the Commencement Certificate reflects the ABG’s commitment to responsible resource development under Bougainville’s own legal framework.
“The issuance of this Commencement Certificate today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bougainville. It reflects our confidence in our own laws, our institutions and our ability to responsibly manage our natural resources. The redevelopment of Panguna will proceed one step at a time—guided by transparency, accountability, respect for our landowners and communities, and a shared commitment to ensuring that our mineral wealth creates lasting opportunities and prosperity for all Bougainvilleans,” President Toroama.
May 6 2026

Bougainville News Alerts :Bougainville Landowners demand mining companies halt reopening of copper pit

Traditional landowners are fighting back against plans to reopen an existing Bougainville copper mine which has remained dormant for nearly four decades.

During a public event on Bougainville Island last week a warning was declared against the companies who landowners say are illegally redeveloping the Panguna mine.

A public notice told Bougainville Copper Ltd in partnership with Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd to cease their “unauthorised entry and activities” and leave the site. The Autonomous Bougainville Government has been encouraging complicit investors in the island’s economy to accelerate its mining growth as the autonomous region of Papua New Guinea seeks independence prior to the end of the decade. Bougainville Copper, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company, has always been a long-time Panguna exploration licence-holder, while Lloyds was appointed by the Autonomous Region of Bougainville government last year as its preferred partner to redevelop one of the world’s largest copper reserves.

The Panguna mine has not been operational since tensions from the Bougainville civil war escalated in 1989, forcing its closure. The government believes the mine is the most productive way for Bougainville to become economically self-sufficient when goodwill from the PNG national parliament grants the autonomous region its independence.

While returning the mine to production is expected to take several years, efforts, by all accounts, are notably gaining pace.

Read full article https://nit.com.au/05-05-2026/24078/bougainville-landowners-demand-mining-companies-halt-reopening-of-copper-pit

Mar 8 2026

Bougainville News Alert : Statement from the Office of the President: Response to Chief John L Momis, GCL, former President of Bougainville 

It is disappointing to see a leader of John Momis’ stature, a former two term President of Bougainville and longtime Regional Member for Bougainville trying to undermine the good work of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
See Momis Press Release Part 2 below
John Momis led Bougainville’s politics for 47 years until 2020. Yet during much of that time, Bougainville struggled to translate its political aspirations into tangible economic and social progress. Longevity in politics may bring prestige, but it does not automatically deliver results.
During his ten-year presidency, Bougainville witnessed a familiar pattern, frequent complaints directed at the National Government for funding and a succession of ambitious foreign investment proposals that promised transformation but delivered little beyond expensive lessons. Bougainville’s people were left to absorb the cost of several failed economic experiments involving overseas partners who appeared enthusiastic at the beginning and invisible at the end.
While I acknowledge John Momis as one of Bougainville’s and Papua New Guinea’s most distinguished statesmen, political seniority is not the same as economic authority, nor does it grant permanent ownership over Bougainville’s future.
One of the persistent problems of the past was the tendency to place greater faith in foreign advice while sidelining the knowledge and capacity of Bougainvilleans themselves. That approach left Bougainville politically vocal but economically stagnant.
Over the past five years, my government has deliberately taken a different path.
Instead of grand announcements and endless negotiations that lead nowhere, we have focused on building the foundations of a functioning economy. We have invested in strengthening local capacity, improving policy frameworks, expanding infrastructure, and advancing our political preparations for independence.
The progress is visible. Improvements in our hospitals, our schools, and our transport infrastructure are not theoretical they are happening on the ground. And this progress will accelerate as we responsibly advance the reopening of the Panguna Mine, a project central to Bougainville’s long-term economic future.
I have neither the time nor the interest to engage in prolonged exchanges with former politicians who appear unwilling to accept that Bougainville has moved into a new era of leadership. Political retirement, like political power, is something that must eventually be accepted with dignity.
In the past five years, my presidency has not been spent begging the National Government for money. Instead, we have begun positioning Bougainville to generate its own revenue through strategic partnerships with credible investors, including companies such as Lloyds Metals and other development partners who are prepared to work with Bougainville seriously and responsibly.
To the people of Bougainville, last year you decided overwhelmingly to retain me as your President. You asked us to continue the work of building Bougainville’s future and that is exactly what we will do.
I am here to serve you and together we will build our hospitals, our schools, our road infrastructure. We are going to create a strong economy that is sound and induce social and political stability for Bougainville.
Our goal remains unchanged, to create a strong, stable, and economically viable Bougainville ready to stand as an independent sovereign state.
H.E Ishmael Toroama, MHR
President of Bougainville
PRESS RELEASE
By Dr. and Chief, John L. Momis, Friday 20 February 2026
SUBJECT: MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT LLOYDS METALS & ENERGY LTD (LLOYDS
Chief John Momis, former President of Bougainville, 2010-2020, and MP for Bougainville regional electorate in the PNG Parliament, from 1972 to 2005, says that all Bougainvilleans should be very concerned about the way the small Indian company has been selected to be the ABG’s partner in re-opening the Panguna mine.
There are many interrelated problems involved  in both the idea of Lloyds reopening the Panguna mine by the middle of 2026 – only 4 months away. It is well known that re-opening the mine will be a huge project. It will need to include building new processing plants, establishing a huge electricity plant, upgrading of roads, building a tailings dam, moving thousands of small-scale miners from the Panguna lease areas, and so on. The cost is likely to be US$10 to 12 billion. Organising the project to do all of this, and more, will need a company with access to billions of dollars in loans, and with a strong  record in managing the many things involved in such a huge project.
But Lloyds is a small company, without access to the funds  and experience needed. There are big dangers here, or a small company that Lloyds is raising expectations that it cannot meet. There are serious dangers of tensions and conflict developing.
But as if all of that was not worrying enough, in an MOU signed between Lloyds and the ABG on 20 November, Lloyds is promising to get involved in design, funding  and for a whole range of projects. The proposed projects include the new Arawa  hospital, accommodation for specialist doctors, developing a guest house, design of an office for the President in Arawa, developing an Arawa Technical College, establishing a Bougainville commercial bank, developing tourism in Bougainville, and establishing a Pilot training School and club.
This sounds like the ABG is offering almost a monopoly on development in Bougainville. It sounds too much like the monopoly that the ABG offered the Canadian company, Invincible, back when Kabui was president.
It is clear that Lloyds does not have the funds  or capacity to re-open Panguna, and yet it is being offered, and agreeing to develop, all these other projects. The MOU is not binding on the ABG, but it gives a clear picture of the wide range of development activities in which Lloyds expects to be involved.
Perhaps the most serious concern about Lloyds is that they signed the November MOU, and got ABG agreement on developing Panguna only after Lloyds had provided a range of benefits and inducements to the President and his family. Both the President and his wife, and other family members have been flown to India, and the President’s wife has been provided with serious and expensive medical assistance. At best, it looks now like the President came under pressure from Lloyds to reciprocate for the benefits that his family received from Lloyds.
It appears, then, that Lloyds’ main qualification for getting the right to be the ABG’s partner in not only the Panguna re-opening, but also all the many other proposed development projects, is their close relationship with the President, and the various benefits that they have provided to him.
The whole set of arrangements with Lloyds seriously undermines the reputation and standing of the ABG as an honest government with high standards of governance.
Lloyds  and the ABG arrangements with that company are the source of deep shame for Bougainville and the ABG.
John L. Momis
20 February 2026
Jan 30 2026

Bougainville News Alerts : President Toroama confirms ABG position on Panguna Partnering process

President Toroama confirms ABG position on Panguna Partnering process
The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), Hon. Ishmael Toroama, has confirmed that the ABG has rejected the proposed partnership between Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) and CMOC Group Limited in relation to the Panguna project.
This decision follows careful consideration and reflects the ABG’s position as the majority shareholder with a combined 72.9 per cent ownership in BCL.
The President has affirmed that the ABG does not authorise any proposal involving equity participation or dilution of its shareholding in BCL arising from the Expression of Interest partnering process undertaken by BCL.
BCL has been directed to discontinue further progression of the CMOC proposal and the related partnering process and to instead pursue engagement with Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited as the ABG’s preferred partner under a contract mining or services partnership model, which should not affect BCL’s EL01 licence standing or ABG’s shareholding in BCL.
This direction reflects ABG’s policy position that Bougainville is to retain ownership and control while engaging experienced operators through clearly defined contractual arrangements.
The ABG remains committed to progressing the Panguna project in a lawful, transparent, and orderly manner that serves the long-term interests of the people of Bougainville.
Ends///
Dec 5 2025

Bougainville News Alerts :Rio Tinto urged to accelerate action on remediation of Panguna mine disaster, one year on from investigation

One year on from the release of an independent investigation into Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine in Bougainville, communities living with the ongoing environmental impact are calling on the company to urgently move towards funding solutions, particularly in areas identified as posing life-threatening risks.

Conducted by Tetra Tech Coffey, the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment found serious risks to local people from toxic chemical hazards, collapsing infrastructure and levees, and mine-related flooding.

The report made over 30 recommendations for action to address the hazards and other significant impacts on communities caused by over a billion tonnes of tailings waste left by the mine.

Traditional Owners of the area and supporters from the Human Rights Law Centre noted in a statement on Friday that since the report’s release, Rio Tinto has accepted its findings and committed to developing a remedy mechanism consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“Over the past year, the company has been working with communities, the Bougainville Government and its former subsidiary, Bougainville Copper Limited, to discuss ways forward, and has supported further investigations into some of the most critical risks posed by the mine,” the statement read.

“Despite these steps, leaders from affected communities have expressed concerns at the slow pace of progress towards addressing time-critical risks on the ground, some of which were first identified as early as August 2022.

“Communities are urging Rio Tinto to now move decisively towards addressing the mine’s impacts and establishing an independent fund for long-term remediation works and clean-up.”

‘Our people cannot wait indefinitely; too much is at risk’

Theonila Roka Matbob, traditional landowner and lead complainant, said residents were still at risk.

“A year on from the release of the report, our communities are still living with collapsing levees, polluted rivers, and dangerous chemicals. The mine’s impacts affect every aspect of our daily lives; from where we grow our food and collect our water to our ability to safely cross rivers to access schools and healthcare,” she said.

“The Impact Assessment confirmed the scale and severity of the disaster we are living with and highlighted many areas where people’s lives are at risk. We acknowledge Rio Tinto for coming to the table with communities and the company’s support for this process so far. What we need now is for solutions to be implemented quickly, in partnership with community leaders on the ground.

“Our people cannot wait indefinitely; too much is at risk. We urge Rio Tinto to now move quickly towards action to remedy the huge problems we are facing due to the mine”.

In March, Bougainville community leaders called for representation in discussions over the potential remediation of the former Panguna mine, which began in Port Moresby that month.

At the time, Ms Roka Matbob said community leaders “find ourselves shut out of the room”.

“This is not the way to rebuild trust with communities or design lasting solutions,” she said.

‘An ongoing environmental and human rights disaster’

Human Rights Law Centre legal director Keren Adams said on Friday that the Impact Assessment confirmed in “unequivocal terms” that communities in Bougainville are “living with an ongoing environmental and human rights disaster”.

“It found major impacts in every area assessed, including many life-threatening risks to communities,” she said.

“We welcome Rio Tinto’s public commitment to working with all stakeholders towards lasting solutions. Communities now need to see that commitment translate into tangible action on the ground to address risks and impacts identified in the report, and the establishment of an independent fund for clean-up and remedy, as they have repeatedly called for.

“Rio Tinto’s new leadership team have an important opportunity to move decisively to address the company’s legacy at Panguna and to rebuild trust with the people of Bougainville.”

A Rio Tinto spokesperson told National Indigenous Times the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment was “a critical step forward in building understanding of the long-term legacy impacts of the former mine in Bougainville”.

“Throughout 2025, we have continued to engage with the PMLIA Oversight Committee, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) through a Roundtable, to identify ways forward and key priority actions,” they said.

“Ongoing and continuing efforts by the Roundtable parties to address high and very high saliency impacts and imminent risks include: works on 4 structural sites that pose severe and imminent risks to nearby communities; removal of hazardous materials associated with a risk to life from Loloho Port; works to address the impact of flooding for Kuneka Creek communities; geo-technical monitoring and hazard awareness campaigns to ensure local communities and small-scale miners are made aware of potential risks; and additional investigations to address the most critical impacts identified in the PMLIA.

“We continue to support a water and sanitation project in Central Bougainville, in cooperation with the ABG, providing drinking water facilities and youth training to communities.”

A troubled history

Panguna was previously one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines. During its operation from 1972 to 1989, over a billion tonnes of mine waste was released directly into the Jaba and Kawerong rivers.

In 1989, an uprising by local people against this environmental destruction and inequities in the distribution of the mine’s profits forced the mine to stop operating and triggered a brutal decade-long civil war.

Rio Tinto remained the majority owner of the mine until 2016, when it divested and passed its shares to the PNG and Bougainville governments. No clean-up has ever been undertaken of the site.

The company agreed to fund the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment in 2021 in response to a human rights complaint brought by local communities, represented by the Human Rights Law Centre.

Phase 1 of the Impact Assessment, published in December 2024, confirmed extensive impacts and risks for local people are being caused by the abandoned mine, including: imminent, life-threatening risks posed by the collapsing mine pit, levees and infrastructure; ongoing contamination of the Jaba and Kawerong rivers and migration of waste into new areas; mine-related flooding, making river-crossings to access basic services life-threatening and affecting peoples’ access to drinking water, food gardens and sacred sites; and toxic chemicals stored in some locations and found in the soil in some areas.

Originally published by the National Indigenous Times

 


May 27 2024

Bougainville News Alert : Lawsuit against Rio Tinto and BCL involving thousands over environmental and social destruction wrought by Panguna Mine

A class action involving thousands of people is being brought against Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Ltd over the environmental and social destruction wrought by the Panguna Mine in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville.

The action is headed by Martin Miriori, who is the brother of Bougainville’s first president Joseph Kabui, and was a former secretary of the separatists’ government, the Bougainville Interim Government, during the civil war.

Panguna, which was the spark for the civil war, was forced to close in 1989, but the present autonomous government, which now controls it, is working to have it re-opened.

Rio Tinto has acknowledged that a class action has been filed against it and Bougainville Copper in the National Court in PNG.

The company said in a statement to mining.com that “we are reviewing the details of the claim. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Mining.com says the action is being financed by Panguna Mine Action LLC, a company established for the purpose of funding the investigation and prosecution, according to its website.

Miriori said they have reflected back on the unsuccessful US$ten-billion-dollar claim made in 1989 by the man who led the separatists during the civil war, Francis Ona.

“Nobody took it [the Ona suit] to the court. You know, that’s the thing. Nobody took it to court. So this time is a legal process. So we are trying to get something out of BCL and Rio Tinto through the legal process,” he said.

Miriori said they want compensation for “environmental [damage], land, everything that the mining operation affected, basically, for the directly impacted landowner communities.”

This would cover five communities, from the Special Mining Lease area at the site of the mine, through the upper, middle and lower ends of the tailings, right to the coastal corridors.

There is presently work to determine the extent of the environmental damage caused by the mine and this is being funded by Rio Tinto, which no longer has an interest in its former subsidiary, Bougainville Copper Limited.

But Miriori said his legal action is not something that will clash with that work.

“That’s a separate case,” he said.

While Francis Ona had sought US$10 billion dollars Miriori has no figure in mind, “no, I just can’t pre-empt any amount. No the legal process will decide that. The court will determine how much, as we go along”.

He said ideally, they want to settle out of court.

Bougainville government not happy

President Ishmael Toroama said the lawsuit is disappointing and the work of people not acting in the interests of Bougainville as a whole.

He said his government is not backing it in any way, shape or form.

Toroama said he views it as hindering Bougainville’s economic independence agenda.

He said the redevelopment of Panguna is an important priority for this government and for the people of Bougainville.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/517756/lawsuit-involving-thousands-over-bougainville-s-panguna

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Jun 15 2023

Bougainville News : Today we celebrate 18th AROB Day Anniversary June 15 2005 to 2023

Where were you at the beginning of this era on this Day 15 June 2005.
I was at Hahela YC sports oval. This was the outdoors venue where the inauguration of the first ABG took place.
It is where the President of ABG (Joseph C Kabui) took his oaths as the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville within PNG.
It is also where the first 40 members of the First Bougainville House of Representatives took their oaths of Office as Members.
The swearing-in was administered by and before His Honour the Deputy Chief Justice, late Sir Mari Kapi.
This Day was graced by a full crowd of women, men, including schoolchildren that filled the whole oval. A colorful loop of young students holding a large Bougainville flag end to bed took up a large space of the oval.
At the head of the ceremonial pavilion were VIPs that included head of UNOMB, heads of missions in PNG, a Fijian Government contingent led by their Foreign Minister at the time, and heads and representatives of churches, chiefs, elders, traditional spiritual leaders and women leaders.
The significance of this occasion was a “rebirth”of Bougainville after a devastating conflict in which many lives were lost on all sides of the conflict but mostly upwards of fifteen thousand lives of Bougainvilleans.
The thoughts and significance that today marked the end of what seemed a debilitating war and the beginning today that would usher in peace in the land was not lost to many Bougainvilleans at home and abroad.
The principal guest who made the keynote response to the inaugural Address by President Kabui was the Rt Hon Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael Somare.
At the end of the ceremony the Prime Minister, the President, all MHRs, VIPs and the Clerk of the House were ‘ushered’ into vehicles on a short drive to the Parliament, Bougainville’s first House of Representatives.
The first business of the House was the appointment of Speaker of the House. Hon Nick Peniai was duly elected and took his oath as the first Speaker of the House.
Two main Addresses followed, the first in the Bougainville House of Representatives by the Rt Hon Sir Michael Somare and by Hon Joseph C Kabui.
On this day was born the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the ABG and Bougainville’s Parliament, the House of Representatives.
So today isn’t just another day. It is the eighteenth anniversary of AROB eighteen years on. Hon Ishmael Toroama MHR is the fifth President of ABG and head of the Executive. The Fourth Bougainville House of Representatives is celebrating its fourth anniversary with four successful, successive peaceful elections since 2005 with its fifth Speaker as head of the Legislature on this eighteenth anniversary.
Thanking all Bougainvilleans across the length and breath of the main Islands and out on the Atolls.
Thank you PNG National Government for honouring the BPA in delivering Autonomy and maintaining a continuing interest in the development and aspirations of Bougainville.
A long and winding, challenging and interesting, road is ahead and beyond. It isn’t awaiting us. We have to make the right efforts guided by faith, honesty, trust and forebearance, led by leaders that must not only be beyond reproach but seen to be so in a world that is still violent, full of greed and aggrandizement.
Happy AROB Day Anniversary ☮️
May 6 2023

Bougainville News : Download /Read : Unsung Land, Aspiring Nation a new book by Gordon Peake

In 2016, Gordon Peake answers a job advertisement for a role with the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, a collection of islands on the eastern fringe of Papua New Guinea looking to strike out as a country of its own.

In his day job he sees at first hand the challenges of trying to stand up new government systems.

Away from the office he travels with former rebels, follows an anthropologist’s ghost and visits landmarks from the region’s conflict. In 2019, he witnesses joy and euphoria as the people of Bougainville vote in a referendum on their future.

Out of these encounters emerges an unforgettable portrait of this potential nation-in-waiting.

Blending narrative history, travelogue and personal reminiscences, Unsung Land, Aspiring Nation is an engaging memoir as well as an insightful meditation on the realities of nation-making and international development.

Download the book here

Bougainville book

Publisher ANU

https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/series/pacific/unsung-land-aspiring-nation

‘Heartfelt and honest. This book is an insightful read and a valuable addition to scholarship on Bougainville’s journey to peace.’
— Joseph Nobetau, former Chief Secretary to the Autonomous Bougainville Government

‘An excellent piece of engaged travel writing. With first-hand observation and curiosity, Gordon has produced a deeply informed, compelling and evocative account of war, survival and nation-building in what may become the world’s newest country.’
— Tom Bamforth, author of The Rising Tide: Among the Islands and Atolls of the Pacific Ocean

Unsung Land, Aspiring Nation is also available as an audiobook.

Feb 16 2023

Bougainville News Alert : ABG is working on an economic road-map for the region

From New Dawn FM News

Bougainville needs economic strength to support our mandated visions and goals, the Autonomous Bougainville Government is working on an economic roadmap for Bougainville help to budget on matters we need.

ABG Chief Secretary reminded the people that the current internal revenue of K20million increased by K10million to K30million and hopefully to K55million as projected in this year’s budget.

Himata said the economic projects in the pipeline included the ‘commissioning generator for gold refinery three weeks ago in Arawa and awaiting the refinery plant to arrive and install, so we hope that we can commence buying & refining gold in second quarter of this year.

‘Secondly, the water bottling factory in Toniva, the factory building is up, we are waiting for the water bottling & packaging machine that we ordered from China. So, when it arrives, machine will be installed and should commence project mid this year.

‘Thirdly, the airline business the ABG government is investing in the ‘setup of Bougainville Wings Limited’ our airline company. ABG has bought our first airplane two weeks ago, as soon as we bought the airplane-our first revenue started flowing into our Bougainville Wings Limited account.

‘One successful investment and proposal our team has put together, the plane is attached to corporate charters and cargo charters as well.

‘Business will commence business starting this year by 2024 and 2025, we should have our first passenger airplane to support our travels outside of Bougainville and also overseas.

‘Another impact project is the Bana Special Economic Zone, project has started, our team is working on creating our development bank to deal with all foreign direct investments ‘this bank is required’ because we will be dealing with foreign currencies, when foreign companies come to assist us with our development projects n programs in Bougainville, they can bring in their foreign money through this bank, so this will boost economic activity in the region.

Himata also added the Panguna mine, is waiting for the certificate to be transferred by the National Govt, this is currently in progress.

‘Until we own majority of the share-holding from Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL). We can look at how we can open the mine. The decision was made by the people at Tonuru that they want to open the mine with their own mining company.

‘The Manetai limestone project will also be supported by the Panguna hydro, where power will be needed to power the project.

‘We are also focused on the Chocolate festival and the government has budgeted for this at the end of this year.

‘In-terms of fisheries revenue, the National government has agreed to to give the ABG government 15% of all tuna catch in PNG-waters -as Bougainville to entitled to another peace agreement. Currently, we get only K5mill per annum.

Himata stated that the tax regime will be looked into as well.

‘ABG has also invested K20million at Central bank which means our government will be collecting dividends per annum, a good revenue making.

‘Tonolei, will be looked at relating to the option of carbon trade and climate change.

‘Tourism Act, where tourism legislation is established and a board will be setup to promote tourism activities in the region.

‘ABG will strengthen its commodities thru the BACRA law to regulate all our commodities through the signed MOU with PNG Cocoa Board.

‘The ABG Team who travelled to Solomon Islands (S.I), may strike a policy framework, by starting to look at in-terms of petroleum products. ABG may want to purchase low petroleum prices from S.I, to avoid high prices from PNG.

‘Ramazon hydro and Soroken plantation is also being eyed for the solar farm.

‘ABG is also establishing its own power company and telecommunication. Right now, we heavily rely on Digicel, Bemobile and Telikom. Going forward we will use Huawei cable from Arawa to Buka. Dark spot areas will be used to setup towers where Digicel and the others can facilitate their communication.

‘While, Atolls continue to roll out VSAT.

‘We will improve the frequency for National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) reach for Bougainville coverage.

‘K70million budget is also available to improve the Arawa General Hospital, while Buin funding under Asian Development Bank will kick start construction in September this year.

‘The government is committed to the road infrastructure from Aropa and Buin road, Pitono to Kesa road and continue to meet with Chinese government to discuss bridges program to continue from Bana to Buin, continuous development from Buka to Arawa roads,’ Himata explained.

He appealed to the people, we need your support and dedication to ask God to create an environment that we can become a country of our own.

‘Particularly the leaders in Parliament through the ratification process to see why Bougainville can become an independent nation,’ he added

Aug 29 2022

Bougainville Environmental News Alert: Download: Early environmental report on Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine highlights clear risks for communities

 

 

A new independent report reviewing satellite images and other historical data on Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine has warned of serious risks to local communities posed by unstable mine infrastructure and flooding caused by the build-up of mine waste in the rivers.

The report, produced by global environmental firm Tetra Tech Coffey, is a preparatory desktop study on the mine, which will inform an environmental and human rights impact assessment of the mine due to commence later this year.

The report found that a levee at the junction of the Jaba and Kawerong rivers, constructed at the time of the mine’s operation, “is almost certain to collapse at some stage in the future” and that “structures and people that live on the floodplain downstream of the Jaba River would be directly impacted by flooding or landslide effect”. The report noted that “it is not yet possible to predict when the levee at the junction of the Kawerong and Jaba rivers may fail or how severe its failure may be due to limitations of current information.”

The report also warned that “the bed of the Jaba River has raised over time due to flooding and build-up of previously deposited tailings, such as at the lower Jaba River near Bato Bridge”. This “caused the Jaba River to change course in 2017 and start to flow into the Konaviru wetland and lower Kuneka Creek, changing their flooding patterns and depositing tailings into them.” The report noted that “this change of flow into Konaviru wetland is likely to remain and become the focus of further tailings deposition in the future”, posing future flooding risks for people living in the area. However, “it is not yet possible to predict when this will happen and whether the change will be permanent”.

Due to the urgent nature of these two risks, a rapid risk assessment by Tetra Tech Coffey, including on-ground inspection to verify the report’s findings, is due to commence in the coming weeks. The process has been escalated outside of the formal impact assessment and is being led by the Autonomous Bougainville Government, with the support of Rio Tinto and the Human Rights Law Centre.

The other issues identified in the report, including risks posed by old mine infrastructure and pollution of local rivers and water sources, will be examined by the formal impact assessment, starting later in the year.

Last year, Rio Tinto committed to fund the impact assessment following a human rights complaint brought by 156 local community members, represented by the Human Rights Law Centre. Rio Tinto has not yet committed to funding solutions to any mine-related risks or impacts identified through the impact assessment.

The Tetra Tech Coffey report was released by the Panguna Mine Legacy Oversight Committee  – a multi-stakeholder Committee comprising community members, landowners, government representatives, and representatives from the Human Rights Law Centre, Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited.

Traditional landowner and lead complainant in the human rights complaint, Theonila Roka Matbob, who is also the member of parliament for the area where the mine is located said:

“We welcome Rio Tinto’s commitment to investigating these problems and to supporting the Bougainville Government to escalate the serious levee risk and lower Kuneka Creek flooding risk for urgent investigation.

“This early report shows the world just some of what we live with every day. Every day we worry about levees collapsing on us, about rivers full of mine waste flooding our land and villages and about whether the water we drink and wash with is making us sick.

“We appreciate Rio’s message at the launch of the Secretariat’s office that it is committed to the Impact Assessment process. It is critical that Rio Tinto also commits to supporting the implementation of solutions to the huge problems we face.”

Keren Adams, Acting Co-CEO at the Human Rights Law Centre, said:

“This report reinforces the devastating environmental legacy of the Panguna mine and the dangerous, volatile situation that this has left local communities living in. When we visited these communities, we saw first-hand the devastating effects of mine-waste mud flows on communities’ water sources & fishing areas. We spoke to people who live downstream of the collapsing levees and fear their houses could be swept away.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be working with communities, the ABG, Rio Tinto and the Tetra Tech Coffey team to ensure that the acute levee and flooding risks are urgently assessed. We hope this will help give communities a better understanding of the risks they are living with and to identify options for addressing these serious risks to peoples’ lives and livelihoods.”

Background:

In September 2020, 156 residents from villages downstream of the Panguna mine, represented by the Human Rights Law Centre, filed a complaint against Rio Tinto with the Australian National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The complaint was about the environmental impacts of the mine and the effects these have on the lives of people living near and downstream of the mine from things like pollution of rivers, lack of access to clean water, flooding and land destruction, collapsing levees, food shortages, disease and illness.

In 2021, Rio Tinto publicly committed to fund an independent environmental and human rights impact assessment of the mine. The company has not yet committed to fund the clean-up and remediation of affected areas and communities.

A tender process is currently underway to select an independent company of environmental, social and human rights experts to carry out Phase 1 of the Impact Assessment, which is expected to start by the end of the year and run for around 18 months.

Following the impact assessment, further discussions will be held between the company, community representatives and other stakeholders regarding the assessment’s recommendations and next steps.

The Tetra Tech report is available here.

For further background on the impacts of the mine, see the Human Rights Law Centre’s After the Mine report.