THE Panguna Re-Opening Process and Negotiation is considered as a highest priority issue by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).
This was revealed by the President of the ABG Dr John Momis in his opening address to the Joint Supervisory Body in Kokopo recently.
Dr Momis informed the forum that a full brief by the ABG was to have been provided to the JSB to detail administrative actions taken by Bougainville authorities and appropriate national government agencies to deal with the Panguna Re-Opening Process.
He said that this would be treated as a separate issue from the Fifteen Step Mining, Oil and Gas agenda.
Dr Momis further requested that the Panguna Re-Opening Process be treated “as a special agenda item on all future JSB meetings until the matter is concluded”.
He also informed the JSB forum that the Bougainville government was working on legislations specific to the Mining, Oil and Gas industry within the region. He said draft instructions have been “approved for a Bill for a transitional ABG Mining Act”.
This would ensure that all mining and extractive activities in the region relating to mining, oil and gas are governed by a strict set of legislations, with stakeholder activities being carefully scrutinized to ensure compliance with Bougainville laws.
Dr Momis said that the ABG was wary of operators, particularly foreign owned companies who have been operating outside of, and without consultation with lawful ABG and PNG authorities.
“This ABG legislation will, hopefully, put a stop to this practice in an emphatic way”, Dr Momis said.
Dr Momis expressed satisfaction at renewed interactions of late between the ABG and the national government at the senior bureaucratic level, particularly with the Department of Works, Mining and the MRA which should ensure “a new level of commitment on the part of the National Government towards a greater level of cooperation with Bougainville” in all areas.
Dr Momis is Co-Chair of the JSB along with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill 18.10.2012
Source: Post-Courier
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