bougainville copper agreement to come soon !

The today's Post-Courier (PNG) reports:

Panguna to benefit ABG and national Govt

THE once lucrative Panguna copper and gold mine will become another major contributor to the economy of the Bougainville and Papua New Guinea as a whole.
Any progress made on the ground so far is being closely watched by the owners, Bougainville Copper Limited as well as the National Government which still owns 19 per cent of the mine.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mining, Lands and Physical Planning Sir Puka Temu said during the 2009 mining seminar that recent developments under the joint supervisory body (JSB) in relation to the peace process on Bougainville and the commencement of the process towards discussions relating to the Panguna mine “are huge milestones” that give credit to the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government for their willingness to establish lasting peace on the island.
In another plus towards progress on peace process on Bougainville, Sir Puka announced this year that the long awaited Bougainville copper agreement (BCA) would soon be reviewed in accordance with the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the National Executive Council’s decision of November 2006.
It was reported in a Mineral Resources Authority newsletter Mineral Tok, the Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-hazard Management’s priority under its corporate plan was to review the Mining Act 1992 and the Mining Safety Act Chapter 195A and the Mineral Policy.
“With the current favourable political scenario between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Government, the Bougainville Copper Agreement will soon be reviewed in accordance with the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the NEC decision of November 2006,” Sir Puka told Mineral Tok.
The newsletter further reported that given the sensitivity of the issue, the National Government would ensure a transparent process was maintained with the engagement of an independent facilitator and that there is landowner participation.
“In doing so we hope to install confidence in our people on Bougainville and to have the decisions emanating from the review to be fair and justifiable to all affected parties,” Sir Puka said.
“DMPGM (Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-hazard Management has prioritised the review of the BCA under its strategic plan and will spearhead the BCA review under the JSB process in consultation with the National Co-ordination Office of Bougainville Affairs and all other relevant Government agencies,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.