211217STATE ON PANGUNA MINE
By Aloysius Laukai/Press Release
The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, CHIEF DR.JOHN MOMIS has announced that the Bougainville Executive Council in its meeting today, (Wednesday) made a thoughtful and considered decision to impose an indefinite reservation moratorium from any exploration or mining over Panguna project in the best interest of the landowners and the people of Bougainville, after debating over the advice from the Bougainville Mining Advisory Council.
It is with much regret that the basic requirement for obtaining the landowners consent under the Bougainville Mining Act 2015 could not be met.
The voice of the Panguna landowners was clearly heard during the Mining warden hearing that decided in a narrow divide between those supporting the mine to be opened by BCL and those that oppose.
Further to this, to develop the mine today by any other developer will be untenable under current circumstances.
Hence we will not allow this project once again to reignite the wounds of the Bougainville crisis and distract our focus for restoring peace and our preparation for our referendum in 2019.
Whilst imposing this moratorium over the Panguna project, MOMIS says that his government will continue to consult with the Panguna landowners and the people of Bougainville on an appropriate arrangement or best alternative models of development of the mine if the people still have an appetite to develop the mine in the future.
Ends
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