esbc strong support for landowners claim.

ESBC: Strong Support for Landowners Claim.

The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper Ltd (ESCB) strongly support the landowner’s claim for re-opening the giant Panguna mine on Bougainville as recently expressed. ESBC President Axel G. Sturm pointed out on Wednesday in Singapore, that there must be a new approach in all activities concerning the resuming of mining in Bougainville. “We are very much satisfied that the landowners made this first and important step towards BCL,” said Mr. Sturm, “that shows us that a lot of people in Bougainville want BCL come back home to work on the island. Now it is up to the ABG and to the PNG government to make sure that there will be permanent peace and security applied.” Mr. Sturm underlined that without peace and security no investor would give any money to rebuild the island’s damaged infrastructure. Especially the environmental damage due to the sudden departure of mine workers in 1989 caused by the aggression of rebels have to be repaired as quick as possible: “Only a very big mining company like BCL can shoulder a task like this,” said Mr. Sturm, “Also the damage by uncontrolled mining and the use of mercury to separate the gold caused a deep impact to the environment that is supposed to be even higher. Today’s modern mining can provide environmental caring methods of high standard. We absolutely do not want that there will be another young generation in Bougainville that must grow up without education and without a vision of a brilliant future. Only mining can earn the financial funding for progress in Bougainville. The landowners understood and accepted their responsibility for future.”