Who are you to mine my Panguna minerals for?

Leonard Fong Roka

Bougainville suffered from exploitation by external powers since 1899 when the Germans and the British bargained over it as if it was their commodity. This intensified under Australian rule with the discovery of the mineralization in Panguna and the granting of the prospecting authority to Conzinc RioTinto of Australia (CRA) in 1963 that eventually with all the legal backing of the colonial government (later from 1975 the Papua New Guinea government) brutally intimidated the Solomon Island people of Bougainville.

Bougainville’s Panguna mineralization is clear as shown by the online specialized paper, Porter Geoconsultancy article entitled Panguna Copper & gold (n.d.) (link http://www.portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn441 ) is: The main lithologies of the mineralised complex in the mine area include:

Panguna Andesite - the main wall-rock host is a member of the Kieta Volcanics and occurs as a shallow SE dipping hornblende microdiorite lava, agglomerate, lapilli tuff and local pyroclastic bands from 1220 to about 450 m asl. It becomes less agglomeratic with depth, but more welded, fractured and propylitic alteration. It has been contact metamorphosed to a hornblende hornfels for up to 500 m outward from the contact, grading to epidote-chlorite-albite-K feldspar-calcite-pyrite to the limit of exposure, some 1200 m from the contact.
Kawerong Quartz Diorite - the bulk of the intrusion is un-mineralised and occurs to the north-west of the Panguna mine. Within the mine apophysis, there are a number of phases and variants, characterised by gradational, crosscutting and overprinting relationships. These phases are represented by a series of lithologies which include:
Biotite Diorite which comprises the main mass of the apophysis and largely surrounds the Biotite Granodiorite and "Feldspar Porphyry" and is a more potassic altered variety of the main Kawerong Quartz Diorite. It carries much of the mineralisation, and is increasingly brecciated with depth.
Leucocratic Quartz Diorite is a later intrusive phase which occurs on the southern margin of the main intrusive mass. It contains more intense quartz veining and is more siliceous than the Biotite Diorite.
Biotite Granodiorite and "Feldspar Porphyry", which occupy the low grade central core of the orebody. Both post-date the Leucocratic Quartz Diorite and differ only in degree of alteration and texture;
Breccias occur as intrusive, collapse and tectonic breccias and cut most of the main intrusive phases described above. Intrusive breccias were formed by the emplacement of the biotite diorite into the Panguna Andesite and contain angular andesite fragments set in a matrix of biotite, chalcopyrite, bornite and local free gold. Consequently, they are associated with higher ore grades. Metal grades within the breccia bodies decline with depth, and they are cut by dykes of Biuro Granodiorite;
Pebble dykes, including one that can be traced laterally in the open pit for 1900 x 50 m, exhibit fragment milling and consistent fragment and matrix compositions over considerable distances;
Biuro Granodiorite, (3.4 Ma) which is only weakly mineralised and occurs as dykes and as a mass on the western side of the deposit, where it dilutes the ore; Feldspar porphyries occur as post-mineral intrusions;
Nautango Andesite (1.6Ma) is a the barren post ore intrusive.

The fracture pattern exhibits a concentric form, modified by the regional NE structural grain, which is exploited by intrusive features such as pebble dykes.

To Bougainvilleans since time immemorial, whether they have any idea or not of this sub terrestrial wealth their land has, this is their minerals for it is their land; nothing should come in between. Rio Tinto’s and PNG’s infiltration ended up in the loss of 20 thousand Bougainvilleans since 1988.

 But, this is the wealth available for those with the financial power and technology to exploit on Bougainville after a 10 year break since 1989. As seen obvious there is a team attracted to, or is a force with this Panguna mine re-opening issue.

One reason why Bougainvilleans fought the BCL and the PNG government was the influx of non-Bougainvilleans who grabbed our land, raped our mothers, and looted our gardens and so on. Thus looking at the mineralization in Panguna, does Bougainville has the resources to localize mining? As Bougainville created a vagrancy law? As Bougainville established all needed tertiary institutions regarding and mining and so on within the island?

These developments must be on Bougainville first then we talk mining in Panguna for the sole purpose of protecting Bougainvilleans based on the reasons why they lost their loved ones.

The team of people with conflicting interests on this controversial mine obviously are: Rio Tinto with it player on the ground is BCL, PNG with a legal trickery on Bougainville and Bougainville with the pro-mining leaders that the late Francis Ona hated and revolted.

Where is Rio Tinto coming from? In an Island Business article, Bougainville Copper Limited set to re-open Panguna (April 2013) ( link http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/821/bougainville-copper-limited-set-to-re-open-panguna/ ) BCL chairman, Peter Taylor said: ‘…the mine has the potential to process 60 million tonnes of ore per annum, a similar rate that it achieved prior to the mine being suspended.’

This rate was for the pre-crisis mining operations. It was done for PNG development and not Bougainville. To re-start Bougainville economy with such a rate is suicide for Bougainville and not Rio Tinto.

Bougainville, as it prepares for referendum needs not this size of mining. Panguna must be down-sized relations to Bougainville’s sustainable economic growth.

The obvious fact is that Rio Tinto which is having nightmares in its other mining projects is interested in making profit in the Chinese economic boom and not wanting to mine in developing Bougainville.

With that PNG is now fooling Bougainvilleans as it did in 1976 with the useless provincial government system. With the mining powers it is clear that PNG has the all the power to decide Bougainville policies.

In a Lexology article, Reopening of Panguna copper-gold mine in PNG: risks and benefits (July 2013) by Rockwell Olivier and Dan Ward (link http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2d6f8fdb-d43f-4b47-a0a0-9ca85323b3f3 ) they wrote: ‘Although the PNG Constitution was amended to allow the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to make laws in relation to mining, such laws aren't necessarily guaranteed. Section 292(3)(a) of the PNG Constitution provides that even if ABG passes the proposed mining laws, the National Government would still need to agree with the legislation, otherwise the law won't take effect until a dispute resolution process reaches a final determination.’

To this, Bougainville has no power to control or design mining development on Bougainville; PNG still hanging on.

Back in Bougainville, the problem is that we have greedy leaders alone in Kieta. There are people running after their personal interest and brain-washing the local uneducated people. Their issue is money into their Panguna pockets from Rio Tinto, ABG and PNG. Decisions made are so far not representative of the people thus getting the whole Bougainville Island frustrated for not being progressive.

So, who are you to mine my Panguna minerals for? The answer is, Rio Tinto will be mining my Panguna for the Chinese markets under the blessing of PNG and not the Bougainville government, people and their future betterment and nationhood.