good news from bougainville!

Good news for Bougainville Copper Ltd.:

The Post-Courier (PNG) reports that the Bougainville government is preparing for resumption of mining!

ABG starts capacity building training
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Mining officially started its capacity building training program for its technical staff last week with the attachment of two staff with the Department of Mineral Policy & Geohazards Management (DMPGM) and the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).
The training is in line with the ABG’s desire to build its capacity to be able to draw down on mining powers and functions which would enable the Autonomous Government to manage the mining sector on Bougainville.
Department of Mineral Policy & Geohazards Management Secretary Nellie James received and welcomed the ABG staff on Monday this week. “I am pleased to finally implement the National Government’s commitment to the ABG and particularly to its Department of Mining and welcome on board their two technical staff who will be attached with us and the Mineral Resources Authority for the next three months. Between the MRA and us, we are committed to providing the best possible training for them including placing them with the various operating mines in the country,” she said. The two staff are Leslie Siowi, a graduate environmental scientist and Simon Jaintong, a communications and project liaison officer. Chief executive officer of the ABG Department of Mining Steven Burain expressed his appreciation and looked forward to the successful outcome of the training program. “This is the start of what will be a milestone achievement for us and I look forward to the successful outcome of this training program. The DMPGM and the MRA have been very supportive and played a pivotal role in the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) on the drawdown of mining powers and functions”, he said. Mr Burain said that the training attachments will see both his staff spending equal amounts of time over the next three months between DMPGM and MRA concentrating on mineral policy and mining regulation.