President Ishmael Toroama, who is also Minister for Mining and Energy Resources, commended the landowners and BCL for their efforts in successfully reaching this stage.

President Toroama urged BCL to maintain cooperative relations with landowners, emphasising their importance in ensuring the smooth progress of the Panguna project.

He encouraged all stakeholders to continue working together in unity and in compliance with the law to progress the project for the benefit of Bougainville.

Secretary of the ABG Department of Mining and Petroleum, Peter Kolotein, described the importance of the agreement.

“The signing ceremony is significant because it is a process under Bougainville mining law; which states that before entering the land the exploration licence holder must first enter into a land access and compensation agreement with landowners.

“The government may issue an exploration licence, but the licence holder cannot enter the land unless it gets access permission from landowners,” Mr Kolotein said.

He said that, 35 years since the closure of the former Panguna mine, tangible redevelopment is being made.

“It has taken 10 months to get to this stage where landowners and company are now in agreement; culminating with signing of the agreement.

“Various stakeholders have been involved in the process including BCL, landowners, ex-combatants, the ABG and others.

“In spite of challenges along the way, the outcome we’re witnessing today is the result of that inclusive and consultative approach”.