Bougainville Leader Calls For Talks On Mining

Bougainville leader calls for talks on mining

Radio Australia

21 June 2005

The new president of the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Joseph Kabui, says he is ready to launch talks about the future of the controversial Panguna copper mine.

The mine, which is owned by Australian company Bougainville Copper Limited, has been closed since the mid 1980s because of tensions over royalty payments.

President Kabui says he is now prepared to examine a range of mining options.

"There's so much gold drifting down the tailings of Java river. We don't have to open up Panguna mine itself, but we can help people to get all the gold out from the tailings through alluvial mining," he said.