PROGRESS talks on reopening the Panguna Mine in Bougainville are going well and steady.
Country Manager for Rio Tinto PNG Ltd Mr Paul Coleman (picture) said this yesterday in Port Moresby.
He said that the company does not want to repeat mistakes from the past so they are very cautious about what they are doing.
“We want everyone to be involved,” Coleman said.
He said those to be involved in this process included all concerned stakeholders, the ex-combatants, Me'ekamui, the landowners and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
He said that after all consultations with all stakeholders they would proceed with pre-feasibility studies on reopening the Panguna Mine.
He said the progress on reopening the mine has moved forward and steady and is heading in the right direction.
Mr Coleman said from the feedback they are getting off their consultations, most Bougainvilleans including the Autonomous Bougainville Government are keen on reopening the mine.
He said they had a meeting with stakeholders in Bougainville recently and will have another soon.
He said majority of them saw that reopening the mine would help with economic development in Bougainville.
He said much has been said but there is still much work to do.
Mr Coleman said they are very cautious with they are doing and they would like to bring all parties into the process.
He said it would cost the company around US$4-6 billion if they were to reopen the mine.
“There’s a lot of work to be done and we have made a lot of progress in the past months,” Mr Coleman said.
“We want to get it right for the first time, so we don’t get anything from the past.”
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