Shareholders at the Bougainville Copper (BCL) AGM will push the company to address the concerns of the local community and environmental issues before attempting to reopen the Panguna mine, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) has placed two resolutions on the agenda for the Bougainville Copper AGM to be held in Port Moresby on May 6.
“The best chance of BCL’s mine being re-opened will come from commitments to future good corporate citizenship by BCL. Rio Tinto, its largest shareholder has made such commitments. BCL should too. That is what our resolutions call for.” said Ms Caroline Le Couteur, Executive Director, ACCR.
“To improve the chance of the mine reopening, to get a better deal for the people of Bougainville and ensure the environment disaster of the previous operations are not repeated, we are calling on BCL to invite an independent jurist to conduct a full enquiry into the involvement of BCL in the civil war, and ensure any proposal to restart the mine should deal with the outcomes of that enquiry. We are also calling on BCL to commit to a high standard of environmental rehabilitation,” said Ms Caroline Le Couteur, Executive Director, ACCR.
ACCR is working with Jubilee Australia, an NGO with strong links to development organisations and faith groups in Australia including the National Council of Churches of Australia. Jubilee Australia’s CEO Brynnie Goodwill said, “The voices of the people living in the vicinity of the mine who live with its impact now and for years to come should be closely involved in decisions regarding its future.”
For more information see http://www.accr.org.au/bougainville_copper
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