All friends up till the closure of the mine. Rio Tinto said representatives from the company hadnt been able to visit the mine site since 1990 because of the civil war and later ongoing severe security concerns. As a result, the company wasnt able to address these problems before 2016. Traditional earth-moving methods are employed 16:00. A spokesperson said: We believe the 2016 arrangement provided a platform for the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and PNG to work together on future options for the resource with all stakeholders. They were very heavy handed in the way they handled disputes in the HighlandsIt was a case, somebody has to come. A total of K1,088 million was contributed to the National Government, which represented 62 per cent of the net cash generated by the project between 1972 1989. Lets examine what led to the ongoing crisis. PNG marks 40 years of independence, still feeling the effects of Australian colonialism. Discontent was brought to a head in 1988 by a long-running dispute over the uneven economic returns and environmental impacts from Panguna copper mine. But that same year, the company abruptly said it needed to do its own internal review, Adams said. Here you can read our near-verbatim reports on all debates, including oral questions and proposed laws (bills). Dec. 5, 2022. Consistent with business development activities, representatives from Fortescue have visited Bougainville Island to learn about the region and potential opportunities., Businessman Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest during a state dinner in Washington in September.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen. The mine has been closed since 1989 and has ceased all production. Rio Tinto, therefore, is of the view that it is for the people of Bougainville to determine their future, including any potential redevelopment of the mine.. But what lies ahead remains deeply concerning for the people of Bougainville, according to the people that Adams and her colleagues spoke with, who said they have been left with few options. Johnstons biggest claims to fame at home are a controversy over his lavish spending on entertainment as minister and comments that South Australians couldnt build a canoe, much less a submarine. The London-based parent company continues denying any wrongdoing, even though a US federal court has agreed to hear some of the charges being levelled against it. Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL) yesterday announced a loss of K3.7 million in 2011, compared to an anticipated loss of K7.3 million, reports The National. Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer announces US$65m aid for Bougainville as a ceasefire ending the civil war was signed at Arawa in 1998. Unit 3: Transition and Change - Bougainville Case Study 1 Additional Support Material Bougainville - Background Notes From 1987 to December 1997 Bougainville Copper The Bougainville Copper Agreement of 1974 was signed with some resentment on the part of the Bougainvillean landowners. Bougainville Copper says its main objective is to work cooperatively towards realising the vision of resuming active exploration and sustainable copper, gold and silver mining at Panguna, in central Bougainville, after mining ceased in 1989. During its operation from 1972-1989, the mine operator, then a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, dumped one billion tonnes of mining waste into Bougainville's rivers with devastating environmental consequences. The Panguna mine is a large copper resource in the east of Papua New Guinea in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. In addition, payments to the then North Solomons Provincial Government and Panguna landowners, together with provisions made since 1990, amounted to K114 million. A 16th century map 5:41. The war is long over and the mine has been closed for 30 years, but its brutal legacy continues. A volcano smokes. BCL must publicly apologise for its evidenced role in the Bougainville conflict. For an all-round overview of the Bougainville Copper story - a constant plaything of speculators - please refer back to my Weekly Dispatch of 13 March 2020. In-depth copper exploration started in 1964 8:15. Landowner concerns with their treatment when the mine was previously operated led to civil unrest and closure of the mine. More recently a new player, Caballus Mining, has arrived in Bougainville. BCL operated the copper, gold and silver mine at the Panguna mine on Bougainville Island in PNG from 1971 to 1989. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Several sources linked to the company and NGOs operating on the island said this was due to the request by the government that the miners are not seen to be influencing the independence vote. "Bougainville Copper Limited shareholding", "Bougainville imposes moratorium on Panguna mine over fears of civil unrest", "BCL takes Bougainville Govt to court over licence non-renewal", European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC), Bougainville Copper Limited - All Annual Reports since 1967, Blood and Treasure - SBS documentary 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bougainville_Copper&oldid=1142268123, Copper mining companies of Papua New Guinea, Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 13:11. BCL/Handout via REUTERS. But that ended 18 years before they divested.. The companys website lays out its extensive commitments to human rights, community development and the environment, and it implements the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. "Due to the loss recorded and the need to preserve cash for future development the company will not pay a dividend. Photo: Ben Bohane/The Australian 19 July 2011 bottom On satellite images, the Panguna mine yawns amid the otherwise green mountain forests of central Bougainville Island in the South Pacific, a silty river valley tracing a jagged path from the mine south and west to Empress Augusta Bay. They would love for Rio Tinto to come back and listen to them face to face about the problems that they have. [6], In his first statement on Radio Australia Pacific Beat on 8 June 2010, the newly elected President of Bougainville, John Momis, declared that the Panguna mine has to be reopened to assure Bougainville's future economic growth. Professor of Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific. If BCL comes to the table and publicly acknowledges its role on the Bougainville war, perhaps the healing process can begin. Autonomous Bougainville Government president John Momis. You know we gave them everything, because as a far as we saw it we were hoping that they were going to solve the situation, so we could start operating again. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. A BCL General Manager from the period recalls: "We did everything they asked of us to make their life more comfortable, and better able to manage through, with transport, communications, provisions, whatever, fuel. The Sherratt Family, UK. Control room and men monitor the equipment 26:35. Bougainville Coppers main objective is to work cooperatively towards realising the vision of resuming active exploration and sustainable copper, gold and silver mining at Panguna, in central Bougainville, after mining ceased in 1989. Several villages had to be relocated to make way for the mining operations, with around 200 households resettled between 1969 and 1989. It was not a new argument, indeed the distinguished ANU scholar John Braithwaite wrote in 2011: "Reconciliation between the mining company, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, and Bougainvilleans is yet to be achieved. We are ready to enter into discussions with the communities that have filed the complaint, along with other relevant parties such as BCL and the governments of ABG and PNG. Autonomous Bougainville Government president John Momis. They spoke with parents whose children have sores that wont heal and persistent coughs, in part because the tainted river waters are the only place where they can bathe. In a memorandum dated 6 December 1988 he recounts his reaction to the Prime Minister's proposal: "The PM's priority was to 'appease' the landowners. Many believed that partner would be Caballus. [2], The mine was vitally important to the economy of Papua New Guinea. Dew Farmers in Bougainville to Produce Rice with Mill donated by Bougainville Copper Limited, Outstanding Leadership Skills Awarded at Tonu Secondary School. In all, it was an unsatisfactory meeting". For 17 years in the 1970s and 1980s, the mine was one of the worlds largest for copper and gold. They say that waste from the copper and gold mine is causing health problems for 12,000 . In its heyday, the mine, which would take an estimated $US5 billion in infrastructure spending to restart, was a productive asset for Rio Tinto, then known as Conzinc Rio Tinto. But the feat came at a huge cost. Adams team cataloged the fouled water supplies that force communities to depend on drinking water piped from long distances upslope. The issue of compensation went to the High Court of Australia, where it was found that the compensation was inadequate under ordinary federal Australian law, but that as an External Territory, Papua New Guinea was not guaranteed the same standards that applied to mainland Australia. Computers anticipate marketing and management challenges for the exploration 12:05. McGlinn was last week travelling in Europe. 5. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Indeed, Panguna along with the socially and environmentally disastrous Ok Tedi mine in the western highlands of PNG are widely credited with forcing the industry to reassess its social license to operate. This is evidenced in meeting minutes dated 8 June 1989. Rock crushers weighing 24 tons 24:20. Are they fking mad? asks one former Rio Tinto executive who worked at the company when it was the majority owner of Bougainville. 8. Bougainville Copper trained some 12,000 employees, including approximately 1,000 completing full trade apprenticeships and some 400 completing graduate and post-graduate studies that resulted in considerable progress in the localisation of the companys employees and significantly added to the number of skilled workers elsewhere in the countrys workforce. Part of the gigantic Panguna copper mine, one of the largest copper and gold deposits in the world. I took it from Mr Sturm's statement, he had not bothered to familiarise himself with my research on the Bougainville conflict. However, in light of recent personal attacks on my credibility as a researcher and scholar, I feel compelled to summarise the empirical evidence on which my recent suggestions were based. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Available ONLINE ONLY! Now, the mines longtime operator, the British-Australian company Rio Tinto, must make amends, they argue. The Panguna mine was operated by BCL, majority owned by Rio Tinto, for 17 years from 1972 until 1989, when operations were suspended due to an uprising against the mine and subsequent civil war. The two governments signed a peace deal in 2000 under which Bougainville remained part of PNG but was allowed a measure of governing autonomy. The people of PNG and Bougainville have a significant stake in Bougainville Copper, with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) holding a 36.4 per cent share in the company, as does the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. RTG claims BCL has lost its local goodwill and cannot operate in Bougainville, and that RTG has the support of a landowner group the Special Mining Lease Osikaiyang Landowners Association - one of the groups who say they represent landowners in the Panguna area. They were the only ones that could come, and put a lid on this thing before it got out of hand" (Personal Communication, 2006). Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The natives of Papua New Guinea are to be trained to work in the copper mines 14:03. Bougainvilles president John Momis has copped much criticism for entertaining the Caballus deal, and the Autonomous Bougainville Government has given mixed signals on its position on mining. Its sole director is Arabian horse breeder and luxury goods dealer Jeff McGlinn a man who posted a flashy social media video of Saudi royalty at a luxury event, and another of him giving one of his fine equines to classical crossover singer Andrea Bocelli. In particular Axel G Sturm argued: "Your disgraceful lampoon is remarkable. I expressed the view that CRA would want to review its assessment of PNG as a place to invest. Following PNG security forces heavy-handed intervention allegedly under strong political pressure from Bougainville Copper the rebellion quickly escalated into a full-blown separatist conflict that eventually engulfed all parts of the province. When Mobile Squad units and Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) soldiers arrived on Bougainville during December 1988 and early 1989, BCL gave the security forces access to company assets. Last month the President of the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC) Axel Sturm publicly raised concerns over the volatility of BCL's share prices. Matthew G. Allen has received funding from an Australian Research Council fellowship DE140101206. Uploaded by Even the subsistence farming on which many local communities rely has been hampered by the tainted water flowing from the mine. When I conducted research in Bougainville in 2015, I estimated the deposit of the mines waste rock (tailings) downstream from the mine to be at least a kilometre wide at its greatest point. In the absence of any sort of mine closure or mothballing arrangements, the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the Panguna mine have only been compounded. Bougainville Copper Project 1969/1970 Photos Now Aussie companies are fighting over it again. New services are provided with trained personnel 19:33. A family carries large, tropical leaves up a hill. The first Bougainville independence movement began to arise in the late 1960s, as people began to air their grievances against the then Australian colonial government over the handling of the Panguna mine. These communities used the rivers for drinking water and the adjacent lands for subsistence food gardening. Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) is a mining company of Papua New Guinea (PNG) that is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Already the tussle for Panguna has sparked a race to promise the best deal and the highest royalties to landowners while stemming the environmental degradation that has ravaged Bougainville. Mining operations were officially halted on 15 May 1989, due to militant activity and the mine has remained closed since. BCL regularly met with military commanders from the PNGDF and senior Cabinet figures. 60 Minutes' report, "Seeing Red," on China in the Pacific airs at 8.30pm on Sunday November 17, 2019. Heavy machinery mines the mountainside 1:30. Heavy fuel storage tanks 11:30. See: U.S. Court is prepared to hear Bougainville genocide case against Rio Tinto, The greatest threat to Bougainville Copper's future is it's hidden past. A geologist with 17yrs industry experience in grade control geology, resource definition, near-mine and regional mineral exploration, and database geology. The mine, located in Bougainville, was centrally important to Papua New Guinea, providing over 45% of the country's national export revenue. Credit:Ben Bohane. Men crush rocks in the river looking for minerals 8:05. Bougainville Copper Limited 10:15. PeriscopeFilm Country Partnership Strategy: Papua New Guinea, 2021-2025 INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH ASSESSMENT A. Contributions to the National Government in the form of taxes, duties and dividends were approximately 17 per cent of internally generated Papua New Guinean Government revenue during that time. Ben Bohane is a Vanuatu-based photojournalist. BCL did not alert the domestic or international community of the impeding humanitarian crisis. Bougainville is home to the Panguna mine - once one of the largest operating copper and gold mines in the world. The Mobile Squads were responsible for numerous atrocities on Bougainville during 1989-1990. I consider that issue now resolved.-- * Kristian Lasslett is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Ulster and he sits on the Executive Board of the International State Crime Initiative. The petition has brought the plight of these communities back into the media, but calls for Rio Tinto to clean up its mess have been made for decades. A peace agreement was signed in 2001 and Bougainville was given greater autonomy within PNG, with a non-binding referendum in favour of independence . Bougainville Copper now has three offices, located in Port Moresby, Buka and Arawa. Bougainville later gained fame for his expeditions, including circumnavigation of the globe in a scientific expedition in 1763 and the first recorded settlement on the island of Bougainville. And the second was that there was always these threats that they were going to sell off the mine equipment" (Personal Communication, 2006). But that race has also already sparked intense political disagreement between rival groups on the island. The mine was operated by Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), an Australian subsidiary of Rio Tinto, and sought to tap large deposits of copper, gold and silver in the Emperor mountain range. BCL hit back saying the landowners association (known as SMLOLA) is a new invention and points to recent statements disputing its provenance. Find himon Twitter: @johnccannon. As one woman from Dapera told me in 2015: I have travelled all over Bougainville, and I can say that they [in Dapera] are the poorest of the poor. Papua New Guinea Mine Watch. The Duke of Edinburgh visits in 1971 22:25. On 1 July 2016, Bougainville Copper Limiteds major shareholder, Rio Tinto, transferred its 53.8 per cent shareholding for distribution to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, for the benefit of Panguna landowners and the people of Bougainville, and to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. "Some of these are within the control of the company itself, others less so. In fact Mr Lasslett's critique of the company's complicity in human rights abuses, during the first 15 months of the bloody conflict, is quite measured. It ended the day at 89 cents, up 122.5%. No environmental impact study was carried out. Had he, Mr Sturm would have discovered that my findings are based upon interviews with General Managers and three Managing Directors who steered BCL during the 1987-1991 period. Regardless, all views are to be respected." I think communities would welcome them doing that, if they were there for that reason.. Mining giant Rio Tinto Group, which was historically Bougainville Copper Limited's major shareholder, exited on 30 June 2016 when it transferred its 53.8 per cent shareholding for distribution to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The Panguna mine is set to reopen after landowners in Bougainville agreed to the decision, 30 years after it was forced to shut amid a civil war between local rebels and the government of Papua. In an act of goodwill BCL should publicly disclose the depth of its involvement in the security force operations on Bougainville. In turn, the landowner groups supporting BCLs plans to reopen Panguna have also come under fire. The political structure of Bougainville as an autonomous region within Papua New Guinea reflects the important need, following the civil war, for parliamentary representation of different interest groups. 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