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Bougainville government welcomes progress on reopening of Panguna mine
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/...g-of-panguna-mine

Panguna mine is seen by the Bougainville government as the best way to develop a viable economy as it eyes independence. Photo: OCCRP / Aubrey Belford

The government in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville is welcoming what it calls tangible progress on the reopening of the Pnguan Mine project.

The mine, shut down 35 years ago, is seen by the Bougainville government as the best way to develop a viable economy as it eyes independence.

The landowners and Bougainville Copper Ltd have now signed a Land Access Compensation Agreement, ten months after the government had renewed the company's exploration licence.

The access agreement is vital before exploration of the mine site can get underway.

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama, who is also Mining Minister, said it is another step in the Panguna project's mining life cycle.

He has urged BCL to maintain cooperative relations with landowners to ensuring the smooth progress of the project.

The secretary of the ABG mining department, Peter Kolotein, said the signing was significant because under the Bougainville Minining Law, the holder of an exploration licence has to have permission from the landowners before entering the land.

He said that, 35 years since closure of the mine, there is now tangible redevelopment progress being made through an all-inclusive, consultative process.