bleibt nur das Recht, dass BCL als erster über die SML
Verhandeln darf...
230914ONI GIVES UPDATE ON HIS DEPARTMENT
BY JENNIFER NKUI
The department of mining has now reached a very important chapter in its capacity building process whereby the department has evolved from the formation of a division with a chief executive officer and a minister in 2006 to having a fully functional mining department with a secretary, support staff and capacity to implement powers and functions transferred from the National Government to the ABG by the enactment of the Transitional Act.
This was revealed by the ABG minister for Natural Resources and Energy Michael Oni in his ministerial statement during the September parliament seating.
As the mining minister he happily announced that his department is now empowered and independent with its own mining law as a result of the enactment and passing of the Bougainville Transitional Mining Act.
He said this signifies that Bougainville alone has the authority to make approvals on mine related activities and matters on Bougainville.
He then thanked the ABG president chief Dr. John Momis, his vice president and the BEC members for issuing instructions in 2013 to officers and lawyers to fast track the development of the Bougainville Mining Transitional Bill.
He added that though the Bougainville Mining Transitional Arrangement Act took almost two and a half years to develop and which created a lot of debates, it was a worldwide exercise undertaken and credit must go to all those who contributed one way or another for ABG to finally have its own mining laws.
Mr. Oni said the development of the Transitional Act also helped the ABG address numerous sensitive issues which so many are scared and skeptical of even considering.
Prominent of these issues are mineral ownership by customary landowners, having a greater say of participation, exploration, mining development consultations which was never the case before and the very sensitive Bougainville Copper Agreement.
In consideration of many Bougainvilleans regarding BCL, the ABG was also very bold in stripping BCL of all its exploration tenements and other associated leases and down grading of its SML to its exploration license where they could start to conduct feasibility studies and negotiate from to apply and qualify for a mining lease under our own mining laws.