03/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/09/2025 23:08
Bougainville Copper was pleased to participate in the first roundtable meeting to address findings from the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment (PMLIA) in Port Moresby last week.
The roundtable, which also comprises the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Rio Tinto, is a joint undertaking that follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last November.
It aims to develop a process for collectively remedying actual and potential impacts identified in the PMLIA Report published in December 2024. This includes designing a potential remedy mechanism aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The meeting was an important first step towards finding ways to address the legacy issues of the Panguna Mine. We are committed to developing solutions in partnership with other relevant stakeholders that are both practical and meaningful for the communities who have lived with these impacts.
The parties discussed and agreed the scope of further investigations into the most serious impacts identified in the PMLIA for consultation with and endorsement by the Oversight Committee. The ABG has also launched an education awareness program to inform local communities and small-scale miners about potential geo-technical risks.
In addition, the parties are also addressing ageing infrastructure and other priority issues highlighted by the PMLIA, with the aim of mitigating potential risks. This includes carrying out remedial works on old BCL assets, including the Jaba Pump Station and the Momau River Bridge as well as the former mine area workshop, storage facilities and concrete wall in the Panguna town area.
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