Bougainville Govt discuss issues on mining in region
By Alex Munme
THE Bougainville executive council under president John Momis has already begun discussing issues relating to mining in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This was revealed in his first policy speech to the Bougainville House of Representatives last week. In this policy a review process is the first step in order for Bougainvilleans to work with the major stakeholders - the National Government and BCL. In the review process, issues like the Bougainville Copper Agreement, compensation, environment, training, business opportunities for Bougainvilleans, and revenue shares of landowners and the Bougainville government will be discussed. At the same time, the BEC will be considering the future of the moratorium on mineral exploration in Bougainville that has been in place since 1974. We will need to decide whether or not the time is coming when we will allow exploration. New exploration would bring investment, employment and tax revenues. It would help us to decide whether or not there might be smaller and more environmentally friendly alternatives to re-establishing a mine at Panguna. In addition, fees for exploration licences under a Bougainville mining law could possibly generate significant income for the ABG. For example, if licences are put out to international tender, mineral exploration companies will compete in terms of the amount of the licence fee they are willing to pay. The BEC will also need to consider developing a realistic policy on small-scale mining by Bougainvilleans. Thousands of our people are now washing for gold in rivers, or in the BCL leases. Others are doing small-scale mining of veins of gold in hard-rock in various parts of Bougainville. Many people are making a lot of money. But this small-scale mining is also causing problems. They include land and other disputes, safety issues for miners, and environmental damage. Furthermore, many of our people are being robbed by unscrupulous buyers who fail to pay them fair prices for their gold, said Mr Momis.
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