Bougainville president warns against 'unauthorised' Panguna mine forum

Bougainville's president has warned the public about what he calls "unauthorised" discussions purporting to be part of the Panguna mine redevelopment project.

Online promotions for the so-called Panguna Development Forum say civic outreach and high-level discussions are running for two weeks in Panguna and Arawa.

But President Ishmael Toroama said the forum has not been facilitated, approved, or authorised by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).

This comes as the government looks to redevelop the long-mothballed Panguna copper mine. It has partnered with Indian company Lloyds Metals to run feasibility studies alongside the licence holder at Panguna, Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL).

In a statement on 15 May, Toroama said individuals or groups promoting the forum are acting entirely outside the rules of the Bougainville Mining Act.

Under Bougainville law, a development or mineral resource forum is only convened when a formal application for a mining development licence or large-scale mining lease has been received by the ABG, and the responsible minister formally calls for such a process.

Toroama, who is ABG's Mining Minister, said he was not aware of any such application in relation to Panguna.

"I have not called for or authorised any Mineral Resource Forum process to be convened," he said.

Last month, a group of landowners in the area warned BCL and Lloyds Metals to stop what the group called "unauthorised entry and activities" at Panguna.