The Joint Panguna Negotiation Coordination Committee (JPNCC) has expressed a unanimous desire for significant landowner participation in employment if and when Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) returns to Panguna.
The JPNCC is made up of representatives of mine-affected landowners, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), the Government of Papua New Guinea and BCL.
Vocational training for employment will need to be undertaken and the JPNCC will work closely with the ABG Division of Education, which is now rolling out education programs across Bougainville.
One of the first areas of employment will be the provision of support and services for the implementation of the environmental, social and economic baseline studies to be overseen by the JPNCC.
Provided it acceptable to the landowners, Bougainville Copper is keen to open an Arawa office following the customary process of bel kol, a reconciliation process which is expected to take place later this year.
The BCL Arawa office will also create several local jobs, including liaison officers to the nine mine affected landowner areas.
The JPNCC will continue to meet throughout 2014 in both Port Moresby and Buka.