THE future of the Panguna mine may soon be decided with Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama assuming the Ministry of Mineral Energy Resources in the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
Toroama was sworn in last week following a minor reshuffle in the Bougainville Executive Council which saw the decommissioning of the Member for North Nasioi Mathias Salas as Finance and Treasury Minister. Robin Wilson, who was previously the Minister for Mineral Energy Resources, has since been sworn in as Bougainville’s new Minister for Finance and Treasury in the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“As Minister for Mining the reopening of the Panguna mine is an important agenda of my government. My government has made significant progress in the last three years but it is time we make a strong decision to achieve a tangible for this issue,” Toroama said.
“The Department of Mineral Energy Resources has facilitated the Panguna mine dialogue which is part of the ongoing efforts to reopen.”
Toroama said there had been significant progress with the landowners and the government however there were certain areas with respect to landowners’ issues on ownership and legacy issues that needed to be addressed.
“I remain optimistic that on my assumption of the Ministry we will gain more traction in our efforts to reopen the Panguna mine with a credible investor in the foreseeable future.”
Landowners from Panguna have expressed their gratitude to Toroama’s commitment to reopening the mine and settling their outstanding grievances.
Statement / TheNational
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