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Last Updated 14/03/2006

PNG: Prime Minister flags possible Bougainville mine reopening

Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, says his government is ready to lift the moratorium on Bougainville's Panguna copper mine, if the mine's operators believe the time is right. PNG's mining minister, Sam Akoitai, is in London discussing the project's future with the mine operators, Rio Tinto. The Bougainville Autonomous Government has supported a resumption of some mining at Panguna. But until now, the central government in Port Moresby has ruled out reopening the mine. Panguna was closed down at the height of the Bougainville conflict, and since then the national government has had a moratorium on mining operations.

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Presenter/Interviewer: James Panichi
Speakers: Sir Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister

(PANICHI: How do you expect your athletes will perform at the Games?)

SOMARE: I'm sure that they will have a go at it and it's very difficult to now predict and say this is how they, but I believe they'll do well.

PANICHI: Now on other issues, Sir Michael, your mining minister is in London at the moment to talk about the future of the copper mine on Bougainville. Are you suggesting that the moratorium might be ready to be lifted on Bougainville?

SOMARE: That will depend on the advice he gives me when he comes back, whether the moratorium would be lifted, yes.

PANICHI: Well, do you believe that perhaps it is time to resume mining on Bougainville?

SOMARE: Well I don't know, you'll have to make a judgement on other place and see how it happens on the ground and may be there's room to start warning people. It could happen, it may not happen. But I think we would like to see the mine open, to allow the autonomous government to be able to earn their own revenue and things like that.

PANICHI: Speaking of Bougainville, the security issue of those Fijian mercenaries on the island and Noah Musingku is now creating some concern. Does PNG need to do more in terms of its relations perhaps with Fiji to get that problem solved?

SOMARE: We've got a very good relationship with the Fijians and with the government of Fijian people of Fiji. I think this is a very rare case. I think the people who are on the island have been mislead by Musingku, and I know for a fact that eventually when they've found out that they've been taken for a ride, they would all want to go back to Fiji.

PANICHI: But do you think that's going to happen soon? I just wonder that those mercenaries have been on the island for so long, it just seems that nothing either PNG or Fiji can do.

SOMARE: They're probably waiting for Musingku to pay them and I personally don't think they will cause any problem. They are after money.

PANICHI: The issue of transparency and good governance is obviously something that you've paid some attention to, but there are now four ministers from the government who are up before the leadership tribunal. Do you think that reflects negatively on your government?

SOMARE: Well, I personally don't think so. I think ombudsman rumours any information no factual evidence given can always take leaders and the leaders have been targeted and I personally know for a fact that it was for the later feeling of their returns. It's not anything about corruption or anything like that. It's a late submission, it's 2002 submissions and some of the ministers and some of the members of Parliament have not fulfilled their requirements, and I think they've been referred for that. So I personally don't think that this is anything to do with the corruption.