AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government (AGB) President John Momis has expressed concerns about misleading statements made about Bougainville mining policy by Canadian company Morumbi Resources Incorporation (MRI).
President Momis (picture) said that the ABG has not yet made steps to introduce mining policy although a motion to adopt a draft mining policy was introduced by a backbench member on June 7, 2012, but it was not an ABG policy.
“The motion was not adopted by the house, instead ABG ministers emphasised that only the ABG can develop mining policy.
The ABG has not moved to start mining exploration and a legal moratorium on mining exploration introduced in 1971, at Bougainville’s request has not been lifted.” He said.
“When the ABG does develop its own policy it is unlikely to allow a landowner company to decide who can explore or develop resources and such activities involve many blocks owned by numerous clan groups and they affect adjacent blocks, and those down river or in areas where roads and powerlines must pass,” President Momis said.
He said only the ABG will be able to take account of many interests involved, and so will be the authority to issue licences and in doing so it will take account of rights of customary owners.
According to President Momis (MRI) were making incorrect statements in Toronto about development of Mining Policy on Bougainville and hoped that potential investors are not being misled by such statements.
In an article in Post-Courier dated 11, July 2012 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MRI Lindsay Semple claimed that the ABG had taken motives to introduce Bougainville Mining policy to start mining exploration on Bougainville.
In a statement issued in Toronto dated July 10 2012, claimed unanimous support was given to a motion introduced into the ABG House of Representatives on June 7, 2012 accompanied by a “Draft Mining Policy” calling on ABG to make laws recognising landowner rights to choose companies to explore and develop mineral resources under their land.
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