Telephone: (675) 309 2800 Facsimile: (675) 309 2898
Postal Address: P O Box 1274, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Registered Office: Level 5, BSP Haus, Harbour City, Lot 2 on Allotment 34, Section 44, Granville, Port Moresby, NCD Incorporated in Papua New Guinea A.R.B.N 007 497 869 Notice to ASX 7 July 2017
BCL TO INTENSIFY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) is set to intensify its community engagement activities as part of acomprehensive,staged development plan for a new Panguna mining project.
BCL Chairman Rob Burns said a genuine commitment to stakeholder engagement underpinned thedevelopment plan and the company was putting in place the necessary resources andpersonnel to stepup its on-the-ground activities in Bougainville over the coming months.
“We fully understand that building trust and widespread support among all relevant parties, as well asthe people of Bougainville more broadly, is essential if the aim of renewing mining at Panguna is to berealised,” he said.
“By working collaboratively with all groups, we have every confidence that outstanding issues can beresolved and the necessary benchmarks can be met for the project to advance,” Mr Burns said.
BCL also notes recent comments by a thirdparty company, RTG, that it had been nominated by one ofnine landowner associations as a development partner in a Panguna project.
Notwithstanding, Mr Burns said it was important to stress that BCL’s first right to develop the Panguna tenement was clear and unambiguous under theBougainville Mining Act 2015.
He also noted RTG’spledge to “fully respect” this right.
“There can be no doubt that we are totally committed to exercising our right through the implementationof our development plan, which has the full backing of the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG)and broad endorsement among the landowner associations,” he said.
Mr Burns said it was unfortunate that there was some dispute over the leadership of one of the nine landowner associations and BCL was hopeful of a lasting resolution of the issue and would continue to workcollaboratively with all landowners.
“We know there are people with different views, but equally we are encouraged by the levels of supportwe have received to date and will work hard to further build our relationships,” Mr Burns said.
The people of Bougainville have a significant stake in the BCL of today, with the ABG a major shareholder . By Order of the Board Mark Hitchcock Company Secretary
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