ASX NOTICE – Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) welcomes and supports an agreement reached by Rio
Tinto and residents of mine-affected communities to identify and assess legacy issues linked
to the Panguna mine.
The proposed Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment will identify and assess actual and
potential environmental and human rights impacts and develop recommendations for
addressing them.
The Impact Assessment would be overseen by a multi-stakeholder committee to be established
in conjunction with the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Representatives of all relevant
stakeholders will be invited to join the committee, including the Independent State of Papua
New Guinea, BCL, as well as landowners and community representatives from the mineaffected areas.
During the mine’s past operation, Bougainville Copper Limited was majority-owned by Rio
Tinto. Today, however, BCL is predominantly locally-owned following the transfer of Rio
Tinto’s entire shareholding to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Independent
State of PNG in 2016.
A draft scope for the Impact Assessment and terms of reference have been prepared for
consideration by the multi-stakeholder committee.
The work would be conducted by an independent third-party company or consortium with
strong environmental and human rights expertise at both global and local levels.
The Impact Assessment would be mostly funded by Rio Tinto with BCL agreeing to contribute,
provided the process and methodology is endorsed by the multi-stakeholder committee; the
work can be safely completed, and an appropriate funding mechanism can be agreed.
Following its completion, Rio Tinto and the residents will further engage regarding the
recommendations with a view to laying a foundation for long-term solutions to issues
identified.
Background
In September 2020, the Human Rights Law Centre, filed a complaint against Rio Tinto with
the Australian OECD National Contact Point (AusNCP) on behalf of residents, alleging
ongoing environmental and human rights issues linked to the Panguna mine. The agreement
above resulted from discussions between the parties facilitated by the AusNCP.