Trading Bougainville Copper (ADRs) 867948

Das preisgekrönte Buch gibt es übrigens ab 1. Mai auch als deutsche Ausgabe für 19,90 € in jedem gut sortierten Buchhandel zu kaufen ...

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www.thenational.com.pg/031708/nation40.htm

Chiefs want long reach of law
By AUGUSTINE KINNA
THE chiefs and people of Konnou constituency in south Bougainville have challenged the Bougainville police to beef up their capacity to address the law and order issues in the area.
According to leading Konnou chief Steven Taisu, law and order issues are a big problem in the area which needs special attention by law enforcement bodies.
He said police were physically present in the area, but were not doing enough to help curb lawlessness in the area.
“South Bougainville, at the moment, is facing major hiccups with the rising murder cases, road blocks and arms possessions,” Mr Taisu said.
He told The National that the situation in Konnou was quite tense and chiefs and ex-combatants in the area are doing their very best to seek amicable solutions to the problems.
“We are still facing all sorts of problems in south Bougainville and police have been sitting and ignoring the realities,” Mr Taisu said.
He said police activities were centred in Buka where they were not doing anything but roaming around and wasting time while the real problems continued.
Mr Taisu suggested that police should increase the number of its officers and operations.

www.postcourier.com.pg/20080317/mohome.htm

Panguna landowners talk of reconciliation

A MAJOR reconciliation planned for the landowners of the Panguna area, where the giant Bougainville copper mine is now lying dormant, may soon come to reality.
This planned family reconciliation for the Panguna Landowners Association (PLOA) will be in three phases and could pave the way for a lot of positive things to happen.
Leaders of the Panguna landowners, who had not seen eye to eye for the past two decades, are negotiating a possible reconciliation that would see mothers, fathers, aunties, children and the three clans – Kurabang, Bakoringku and Basikang – live normal lives again like they used to be before the Bougainville crisis broke out.
Autonomous Bougainville President Joseph Kabui comes from the Basikang clan, including the Tapakau, Imako and Miriori, Francis Ona and his two sisters Cecilia Gemel and Perpetua Sirero (three of them now dead) and the Kove family who come from the Kurabang group while Ampa’ois make up the Bakoringku clan.
Late on Thursday, leaders of these clans met at the St Joseph’s International School playground to discuss the status of the planned reconciliation.
Peter Kove travelled all the way from Panguna to meet with the Ampa’ois and other leaders in Port Moresby.
This meeting was also attended by former mining minister Sam Akoitai, Nautilus boss and elite Bougainvillean Mel Togolo, former Bougainville administrator Simon Pentanu and many other Bougainvilleans.
The groups alleged to have been part of the shutdown of the giant mine now plan a big family reconciliation ceremony this year so that normal life can prevail among them.
Other reasons for family reconciliation include the killing of Mathew Kove in early 1989, the instigating of false allegations against Ampa’oi and family in regards to the Road Mining Tailings Trustees Limited (RMTL), of which Lawrence Daveona was then director and company secretary. This dispute led to the attempted ambush and shooting of Mr Ampa’oi at his village, Piwa in 1989.
Also, a scholar who had been overseas was allegedly involved in locking the board members of RMTL in a boardroom while they were having an official meeting, and the role of former Bougainville Governor John Momis, regarded as a key player in the crisis with his Bougainville Initiative and the use of women from Guava village to demonstrate against BCL during his campaign. Mr Momis is PNG’s Ambassador to China.
The reconciliation will include Guava, Pakia and other villages around the mine namely Moroni, Dapera, Mosinau, Kokore, Poaru and Kongara 1 and 2.
In a briefing paper distributed, the family reconciliation will be the initial phase and the next phase will be to reconcile with surrounding Nasioi communities whose families got caught up in the conflict as a result of the presence of the security forces.
Phase three is Bougainville-wide reconciliations.
Although the PLOA said: “We find it hard to envisage Panguna landowners engaging in a Bougainville-wide reconciliation, as we do not know what legitimate reason or reasons for the landowners to be part of this exercise.
“There are lot of questions as to why people of the other regions of Bougainville took part to be part of the problem in the later years as to our understanding the peace ceremony in Arawa.”

Das am Donnerstag in POM unter tatkräftiger BOC Hilfe stattgefundene Treffen der Panguna Landeigner ist die wohl hochkarätigste Zusammenkunft der letzten 20 Jahre.Teilgenommen im Namen ihrer Clans haben u.a. Präsident Kabui,Ex-Miningminister Akoitai,Ex Boc Direktor u. jetziger Nautilus Ceo Mel Togolo,Ex Boug. Administrator Simon Pentanu, Organisator Lavrence Daveona u.Peter Kove.Dass man sich jetzt auf eine ganz B' ville umfassende Versöhnung geeinigt hat,kann wohl als Meilenstein auf dem Weg zur Wiedereröffnung gewertet werden.

Im Kurs spiegelt sich das leider nicht wieder, auch nicht im Umsatz.

Allerdings ist ein Grossteil der Vorgänge,welche hinter den Kulissen stattfinden nur einer kleiner Minderheit bekannt.So kam es am Donnerstag auch zu einem 1 Treffen zwischen BOC u. einem hochrangigen Teilnehmer des Meetings.

Fakt ist dass BOC die Pangunamine wie schon angekündigt wiedereröffnen will u.auch alles daransetzen wird dass es klappt.Dass man den Stand der Verhandlungen nicht bei jedem Schritt der Oeffentlichkeit mitteilen kann ist dabei nur zu verständlich.

www.thenational.com.pg/031808/nation8.htm

ABG, Govt set for high level talks
By HARLYNE JOKU
AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Gover-nment (ABG) President Joseph Kabui said yesterday a decision would be reached soon on the issue of ownership of mineral and gas resources in Bougainville.
Mr Kabui said the issue is “contentious” and he hoped a decision would be reached between the National Government and ABG at the next joint supervisory board (JSB) meeting in Alotau on March 31.
The JSB is made up of the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Mr Kabui, their senior ministers and advisers.
Mr Kabui said the issue of weapons disposal is a sensitive one that would take time.
He said ABG has declared 2008 as its year for weapons disposal and reconciliation.
He said he was proud that ABG has made the commitment to dispose their weapons.
Mr Kabui made the remarks in response to concerns raised by senior Government officials over the delay in the weapons disposal programme as agreed under the Bougainville peace agreement.
Senior Government officials agreed that most firearms used by the BRA have not been surrendered since the Government withdrew its forces.
“Weapons disposal is an issue that the ABG has to deal with. It is no longer an issue for the National Government since it withdrew forces from the island. ABG has to inform our leaders on the status of the weapons disposal programme,” he said.
Acting Secretary for Inter-Government Rela-tions Russell Ikosi confirmed the issue is the first on the agenda during the department heads meeting to be discussed along with ABG recommendations for the National Government to speed up legislation on the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the National Government to ABG.
Several of these powers include ABG’s control of their own mining and other resources, collection of taxes and internal revenue and police, among others.
ABG is responsible for ensuring gun surrender and disposal according to the peace agreement while the Government’s onus is to pass legislation on the transfer of powers.
Mr Ikosi said Friday’s meeting had recommended that the issue be discussed at the second JSB meeting.
He said ABG is expected to present the latest status on the weapons disposal programme.
Meanwhile, a team of various Government agencies are working on the Government’s position on the transfer of powers and administrative matters for ABG.

www.thenational.com.pg/031908/nation40.htm

Three new heads appointed
THE Government yesterday announced the appointments of three departmental heads to take charge of Mining, Works, and Inter-Government Relations.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Lands and Mining Dr Puka Temu said cabinet had appointed Ms Nellie James as Secretary for Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management.
Dr Temu also announced NEC’s appointment of Joel Luma as the Secretary for the Department of Works.
Dr Temu said Mr Luma had been acting Secretary since last August.
The Acting Prime Minister also announced cabinet’s appointment of Manasupe Zurenuoc as the new Secretary for the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs.
Mr Zurenuoc, 48, from Finschhafen in the Morobe province replaces the late Gei Ilagi, who passed away late last year.

Jetzt kommt Bewegung in die Verhandlungen.

Am 17.3 fand das Treffen der Panguna Landeigner in POM statt.(#903)

Anwesend waren u.a. Kabui,Akoitai,Daveona,Kove,Togolo,Pentanu u.Miringtoro,welche sich auf einen 3 Stufenplan zu finalen Versögnungsfeiern für ganz B'ville geeinigt haben.Im ersten Schritt versöhnen sich die Familienmitglieder der div.Pangunaclans,dann die Clans der Pangunaarea untereinander.Den Abschluss bildet dann die finale Reconciliation auf nationalem Niveau.

Wer jetzt mit einer jahrelangen Prozedur rechnet,könnte angenehm überrascht werden.Schon 1 Tag später machte das PNG Mining Ministerium 300.ooo Kina (75000€)locker u.überwies sie ans ABG um die Feiern der Landeigner zu finanzieren.

Am 31.3. sollen die "high level talks" zwischen Kabui u. Somare zur übertragung der Mining Rechte ans ABG anlässlich des joint supervisory board (JSB) meeting in Alotau
stattfinden.(#907)

www.thenational.com.pg/032008/nation40.htm


K300,000 boost for landowners
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE Mining Department gave K300,000 to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) for reconciliation efforts among the Panguna landowners , former mining minister Sam Akoitai has said.
Mr Akoitai, also the former Central Bougainville MP, urged Bougainvilleans to push for reconciliation among Panguna landowners.
He also urged the Port Moresby-based landowners not to create additional reconciliation committees as it might confuse a similar committee that had been set up by central Bougainville MP James Miringtoro.
But an organiser of the meeting landowner Lawrence Daveona denied forming a separate committee.

Die Lagerbestände an Kupfer sind an der wichtigen Rohstoff-Börse London weiter
gesunken: Von rund 130.000 Tonnen letzte Woche auf aktuell 125.500 Tonnen. Ein Zeichen
dafür, dass die Nachfrage über dem Angebot liegt. Und so etwas ist ein bullishes Zeichen!


.......das bekannte Phänomen: Sobald die Aktien- Börsen weltweit schwächeln, werden insbesondere Risikopapiere wie Rohstoff-Explorer verkauft. Da wird nicht groß nach Fundamentals gefragt. Und so kommt es, dass auch ein Qualitätswert in so einem Umfeld unter Druck gerät.

Auf Boug wird jetzt schon diskutiert,dass bei Miningstart die Einheimischen bei der Stellenvergabe mit Priorität eingestellt werden müssten.Das soll bei den Verhandlungen zum neuen BCA festgeschrieben werden.

Nächster wichtiger Termin:Das Treffen Somare/Kabui am 31 März in Alotau.Dabei geht's um die übertragung der Miningrechte u. BOC Shares von PNG ans ABG.

www.radioaustralia.net.au/francais/stories/s2197326.htm

Demnaechst Eröffnung der Pangunamine ?

Dernière mise a jour: 24/03/2008 10:15:55 AM  

Si cette mine de cuivre de la Province autonome de Bougainville en Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée a fermé ses portes il y a près de 20 ans, elle pourrait prochainement redémarrer étant donné que les propriétaires fonciers auraient décidé de résoudre leurs différences. Panguna a fermé ses portes lors d'un conflit sécessionniste conduit par feu Francis Ona en 1989. Plusieurs raisons sont à l'origine de l'insurrection ; l'utilisation des ressources minières, les désaccords entre propriétaires fonciers, des expropriations et la pollution causée par les activités minières.
Aujourd'hui, les propriétaires de cette mine endormie seraient déterminés à se réconcilier et à résoudre les différences qui ont conduit à l'insurrection. Le ministre papou de l'industrie minière, Puka Temu est enchanté : « C'est quelque chose que nous attendions depuis longtemps et qui va nous aider dans nos efforts pour rouvrir la mine. » Dans les années 80, cette mine représentait près de 20% des revenus du gouvernement central de Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée

« C'est quelque chose que nous attendions depuis longtemps et qui va nous aider dans nos efforts pour rouvrir la mine. »

Darauf haben wir lange gewartet,u. das ist etwas das uns helfen wird in unseren Bemühungen die Mine wiederzueröffnen.( PNG Miningminister Puka Temu)

www.postcourier.com.pg/20080325/ispost03.htm

More auxiliary police ‘a huge step forward’

THE graduation of community auxiliary police (CAP) in the Sipai area of north-west Bougainville was seen as a huge step forward for the Kunua and Keriaka District.
John Wood from the New Zealand police said that the President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joseph Kabui, officiated at the ceremony where he inspected a guard of honour and presented the graduating officers with certificates.
Mr Kabui and delegates from the Bougainville community auxiliary policing project and New Zealand police also witnessed the swearing of oath of allegiance.
The funds used in the training courses for CAP development were from New Zealand Aid.
Mr Wood said such CAP courses were held every year and were looking forward to host another in Arawa by September for Panguna people to be involved in the program.

Orderbuch beginnt sich langsam wieder zu füllen,nur zu den Preisen gibt's keine Verkäufer  ;-)))

Buyers  

Numb Quantity        Price
   
1    5,000           0.820  
1    5,000           0.810  
1   30,000           0.800  
1   20,000           0.755  
2    9,086           0.750  
1      813           0.730  
1   12,000           0.720  
1    4,000           0.710  
2   11,500           0.700  
1    1,000           0.560  
1   19,500           0.505  
1  100,000         0.500

Sellers  

Price  Quantity  Number    
0.850    15,683   1  
0.890    10,000   1  
0.895    10,500   1  
0.900    48,000   1  
1.480    75,000   1  
2.340   125,000   1

Bei den Mini Ordergrössen könnte es sich um Landeigner handeln,die allesamt aus dem ASK gekauft haben.;-)))

Force urges Kabui to stick to principles
PNG Post Courier, 25 mars 2008 , 295 mots, (Anglais)

Kann die Meldung nur nicht finden,vielleicht hat hier jemand mehr Glueck :-(((

iworks.factiva.com/ur/...=0&sq=0&dq=0&ct=1&dp=0&rrst=0&stil=fr

Bougainville Facing Frequent Shortages of Fuel And Food Items

PORT MORESBY March 25 Asia Pulse - The frequent shortage of food items in Bougainville has been blamed on the failure of the Autonomous Bougainville Government to attract investment.

The president of the Bougainville business association, Robert Atsir, said the region continues to face shortages of imported food items due to its reliance on shipping to bring in the goods from Lae, Rabaul and Port Moresby.

Recently, the shortage of food and fuel was blamed on the grounding of vessels by the PNG Maritime Safety Authority.

Since February this year the township of Buka and other districts of Buin and Arawa have been facing shortages of basic items such as freezer goods, rice, sugar and fuel, forcing most of the business houses to close their doors for business.

This has also resulted in soaring prices.

This month the region has experienced shortages in fuel especially diesel and petrol, with motorists and road construction companies being hardly hit.

Water taxies servicing the Buka Passage have also been affected by prices skyrocketing overnight.

Mr Atsir said the shortage of goods came about because Bougainville depends entirely on two shipping companies, the Lae-based Consort Express Lines and NGIP Agmark Ltd.

He said to overcome this, ABG must attract big businesses to the region.

It is believed security issues are preventing big businesses setting up in the area.

(Pacnews)

www.thenational.com.pg/032608/nation9.htm

PMV, sea taxi fare hike in Bougainville
By AUGUSTINE KINNA
PUBLIC motor vehicle (PMV) and sea taxi owners in the Autonomous Bougainville region have increased their transport fares with a mark up of 100%.
The increase in transport fares is draining the pockets of the public travellers.
The concern was raised by a group of disgruntled public servants who are frequent users of the service.
Spokesman for the group John Nakin described the increase as “daylight robbery”.
“We, the ordinary commuters, are being robbed. This is an injustice to us,” Mr Nakin said.
He said PMV and sea taxis fares from K1 have now increased by another kina to K2.
Mr Nakin said the short distance covered by PMVs and sea taxis does not justify the increase.
“We are trying to make our day-to-day ends meet and if transport providers are trying to cut off our necks then there is something there that needs to be fixed,” He said.
Mr Nakin said the increase in the fares was an illegal move since there is no price controller or authorities concerned to monitor and regulate the changes in price rates.
He challenged the owners to clarify why the prices have been increased.
He also questioned as to what legal body had approved the changes to be effected, thus affecting the commuters adversely.
According to sea taxi-owner Albert Kulex, all boat skippers held a meeting last week and decided to increase the fares to K2 due to the high price of fuel in Buka.
He said the increase in the fares was effected to meet the high price of fuel that was being charged by the business houses.
Mr Kulex said fuel prices for diesel had increased from K3.60/litre to K6.50/litre and petrol from K4.20/litre to K8.40/litre.
“The high prices of fuel have compelled us to increase our fares in order to meet our costs,” he said.
Mr Kulex said there was nothing much they could do but urged the authorities concerned to put in place a mechanism to control prices of goods in the region.

www.thenational.com.pg/032708/nation7.htm

More Bougainville killings over Easter weekend
By ROMULUS MASIU
THREE people were shot dead in Bougainville’s troubled-spot of Konnou constituency over the Easter weekend.
The fresh killings took place last Friday at Tuoto village, Wisai in South Bougainville where a group in the area calling themselves the Wisai Liberation Front (WLF) raided a make-shift ‘bush camp’ that belonged to the Konnou Me’ekamui elements.
A man and his son were among those killed in the ambush.
Another person escaped with bullet wounds to his body.
He is believed to be in critical condition somewhere in the bush with no health centre or hospital to go to.
Reports said three armed men believed to be from the Me’ekamui faction operating in the area were shot dead after they refused to surrender their firearms to WLF members.
Two Japanese-made .303 were recovered from those shot dead.
One of those killed was reportedly the Konnou Me’ekamui faction operations commander.
A WLF spokesman said those targeted were armed Me’ekamui soldiers.
“We are not shooting innocent civilians but only targeting those people who are running around with firearms and disturbing peace in our Wisai communities,” the spokesman said.
He said this to counter rumours that they were targeting civilians in their operations.
The spokesman said the people killed were from other villages who were coming to the Wisai boundary and disturbing the peace with their illegal activities.
The uprising in the area has escalated this year with two armed groups, WLF and Me’ekamui, now operating in the area.
WLF has vowed to ‘clean up’ the place, accusing the Me’ekamui of perpetrating illegal activities.
It has also accused the Autonomous Bougainville Government of doing nothing to restore peace.

www.thenational.com.pg/032708/nation40.htm

High prices of goods irks BBA
THE sudden hike in prices of goods and services in Bougainville has irked the Bougainville business association (BBA).
Senior executive of BBA and leading businessman in Buka Thomas Rabanz yesterday warned business houses and service providers that their action to charge a 100% mark-up price on ordinary Bougainvilleans will get them into trouble.
This was after most of the leading business houses including public motor vehicles (PMV) and sea taxi owners in the region increased their transport fares with a mark-up of 100%.
Mr Rabanz told The National that BBA has already alerted the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) and Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) on the ongoing price hikes and they are ready to conduct an investigation and crack down on the illegal price increases.
“The business houses and service providers must be careful because they might lose their business certificates as what they are doing (charging their own prices) is an illegal activity,” Mr Rabanz said.

www.postcourier.com.pg/20080327/thhome.htm

Mit dem aufräumen u. Waffen einsammeln scheint es langsam ernst zu werden ;-)


Wisai raid leaves 4 dead

AT least four men, including their commander, were killed last Friday after ex-combatants and police raided a Me’ekamui faction camp in Wisai, Buin in South Bougainville.
This came about as serious fighting continues in Wisai, and as more ex-combatants from different parts of Bougainville have flooded into Oria since last week to hunt Damien Koike and his armed gang who claim to be members of the Me’ekamui faction.
The raid took place in an undisclosed location along the Laludi river, about four kilometres from Oria village.
A policeman stationed in Oria, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the raid and said the camp was used by the commander (name withheld) and his men as their hideout to plan and carry out illegal activities in the Wisai area.
The policeman said after a tip off by some locals, police and members of Wisai Liberation Movement, known as WILMO, sent a patrol into the area.
“The patrol was confronted with a series of shots and the boys responded, killing the commander and some of his men,” he said.
The policeman said survivors had fled into the Sansaro range to regroup with their leader, Damien Koike.
A villager from the area who did not want to be identified said under Koike’s direction the commander and his men had continuously terrorised villagers suspected of taking sides with the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“They have contributed in other illegal activities here (Wisai), including the armed hold-up of the United Nations vehicle in the Wisai area last month,” the villager said.
Meanwhile, WILMO has pledged to provide security for their people and government services in the Wisai area.

Shareholders?

seekingalpha.com/article/...good-for-shareholders?source=yahoo

“Broken Tinto” - that’s what one analyst suggests would be a good name for a combination of BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto PLC (RTP).

Already the world’s biggest mining and petroleum company with a market cap in the $180-billion range, Australia’s BHP would be better off on its own, says Tony Robson of BMO Capital Markets. He initiated coverage of the company with an “outperform” rating and a target of A$45 on Wednesday, but insisted that BHP is overpriced when compared to its peers and may fall if its takeover bid fails.

BMO joins RBC Capital Markets and Canaccord Adams as the Canadian firms that cover BHP, which launched the second-biggest takeover ever in February, when it was valued at nearly $150-billion. The merger would create one of the world’s largest companies with an estimated value of roughly $315-billion.

While prospects for wealth destruction remain, given the possibility of a higher bid for Rio, BHP shares are nonetheless attractive, Mr. Robson said in a report. He estimates the merged entity will make $33-billion in net profit in 2008/2009, and said BHP’s balance sheet will become stronger in the long-term, positioning the company for future “predatory actions” or a return of cash to shareholders.

The analyst suggested that a reasonable bid for Rio would be 2.32 BHP shares for every Rio share. The most recent offer was 3.4-for-1. But if you take into account $1.7-billion in annual synergies, BMO’s estimate rises to 2.55-for-1, or 2.73-for-1 with an additional US$2-billion of annual gains indicated by BHP’s extra output.

But BHP’s bid is destructive in terms of net present value [NPV] per share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization [EBITDA] and earnings per share [EPS] under a variety of commodity price scenarios, Mr. Robson said, adding that suggested synergies do not offset this dilution.

“BHP shareholders are missing out with the transfer of wealth to Rio,” he added. The analyst also thinks BHP shares could fall further if CEO Marius Kloppers raises the bid.

Meanwhile, Chinalco [Aluminum Corp. of China] (ACH) and Alcoa Inc. (AA), who jointly purchased a 9% stake in Rio, or 12% of its London-listed shares, for roughly $14-billion in February, may increase its stake.

At the same time, if Rio Tinto is broken up, Alcoa would likely be after Alcan’s (AL) smelters in Quebec, while Chinalco’s focus would be on things like base metals, alumina or coal, Mr. Robson suggested

www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/27/2200275.htm

Rio Tinto to develop key relationship with China

By business editor Peter Ryan

Posted Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:00am AEDT
Updated Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:10am AEDT


Partner of choice for China: Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese

(Reuters: Christinne Muschi ;-))))))))))

Audio: Business editor Peter Ryan talks to Rio chief (AM) Audio: Rio creates new business opportunities with China (AM) In the latest evidence of changing economic times, mining giant Rio Tinto has signalled a major philosophical change in how it wants to deal with China.

Rather than simply treat its biggest client as a lucrative customer, Rio Tinto wants to develop partnership deals with China's steel companies and Government-backed investment vehicles.

If successful, a greater direct relationship with China would help Rio Tinto fight off a $160 billion takeover bid from the world's biggest miner BHP Billiton.

Rio Tinto's chief executive Tom Albanese told ABC Radio's AM he believes the miner is well positioned to become the "partner of choice" for Chinese companies.

"I think this is just merely focused on something that I think is good business," Mr Albanese said.

"We do see China being interested in investing overseas, China being interested in having access to more metal, more minerals - the things that we're good at.

"Let's work on creating win-win opportunities from the start."

Mr Albanese played down recent tensions with China over pricing negotiations for iron ore including an embargo of deliveries of "spot" iron ore.

"We've seen this in the past and we expect to see it in the future," Mr Albanese said.

While refusing to comment directly on the BHP Billiton offer, Mr Albanese indicated a deeper relationship with China would underpin Rio Tinto's future.

"This is all about positioning Rio Tinto competitively, best of class in the world's mining sector bar none and I think the rest of it takes cares of itself," Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese also said Rio Tinto's relationship with China would not necessarily be derailed by continuing environmental and human rights concerns, particularly in Tibet.

"I think it's fair to say that every country has legacies that have to be confronted," he said.

"China would not be isolated in that area.

"It's important not to isolate a country because it still has those legacies to resolve.

"We're in a commercial company and these relationships are commercial. They need to be competitive and they need to be focused on the things we can do to influence in those areas of sustainable development."

Today the Bougainville team will finalise the draft agreement on the drawdown of mining powers in Port Moresby in preparations for the possible signing in Alotau next Monday.
A Bougainville delegation comprising ABG mining minister Mathias Salas, Works Minister Patrick Nisira, Administrator Raymond Masono, provincial planner Lesley Tseraha, ABG mining division chief executive officer Steven Burain, legal advisor Chris Siriosi and protocol officer Philip Kiha arrived in Port Moresby yesterday to prepare for the travel to Alotau over the weekend.
They will meet with officials at the National Co-ordinating office of the Bougainville Affairs today to finalise arrangements for the travel.
Regional Member Fidelis Semoso will also attend. ABG President Jospeh Kabui will travel to Port Moresby tomorrow. Bougainville will have a contingent of 20 and the National Government will have about the same. The team leaves for Alotau on Sunday.

www.postcourier.com.pg/20080328/frhome.htm

www.abc.net.au/ra/programguide/stories/200803/s2202160.htm

Dieses Interview mit Lawrence Daveona u.Mining Minister Doctor Puka Temu wurde nach AU Börsenschluss veröffentlicht u. zeigt deutlich die Unterstützung der Landeigner für die Wiedereröffnung der Pangunamine.

Good prospects of reopening Bougainville copper mine

Updated Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:00pm

More Papua New Guinea Stories:

There are 'positive prospects' for reopening the Panguna copper mine in Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Bougainville province, with local landowners planning a major reconciliation. The mine was closed nearly 20 years ago during a secessionist conflict led by the late Francis Ona, which was sparked by landowner issues and environmental damage caused by the mine.

presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speakers: Landowner Lawrence Daveona; PNG Mining Minister Doctor Puka Temu

NANOL: The Bougainville conflict that broke out in 1989, when rebels under the leadership of the late secessionist, Francis Ona, attacked the mine workers and installations over environmental pollution they alleged the mine was causing.

The mine was abandoned, and thousands of Bougainvilleans died in the subsequent civil war before a peace accord was reached in 2001.

Now, leaders from land-owning clans where the Panguna gold and copper mine now lies idle say they want to reconcile the differences which led to the Bougainville conflict.

Bougainville President, Joseph Kabui belongs to one of the clans - and has declared 2008 as the year of reconciliation for Bougainvilleans.

Landowner Lawrence Daveona says the conflict started within the three land-owning clans, which accused each other over a perceived unfair sharing out of the mine's benefits.

He says they're now keen to bury their differences.

DAVEONA: I have no deep rooted hatred for any of my relatives whether they are immediate family members or second cousins like Francis Ona, they have all died and what we've got is a lot of descendants. It's for their own real future that we have been talking about our own immediate Panguna landowner families reconciliations over these years.

NANOL: Lawrence Daveona says Francis Ona - who was his first cousin - accused his landowning clan of keeping an unfair share of the mine's profits.

Ona went on to form another land-owner group that Bougainville Copper, which owns the mine, did not recognise.

DAVEONA: Franis Ona being what he was he has a lot of good leadership capabilities and that's why he did it, and there's really nothing wrong with his intentions just that a lot of this youth began following him, he did not know how to control them when the whole thing fell apart.

NANOL: PNG Mining Minister Doctor Puka Temu has commended the landowners' leadership in seeking reconciliation, and is supportive of the mine reopening soon.

TEMU: It's something that we've been waiting for, we've been worried and once we affirm that there is peace and law and order then that will help facilitate the discussion towards when would we agree about reopening the main again.

NANOL: But landowner Lawrence Daveona says the purpose of the family reunion and reconciliation is not ultimately about getting the mine re-opened.

DAVEONA: That is an issue that our autonomous government and the national government and the company, Bougainville Copper, they have to sort it out where they stand on the opening of the Panguna mine.

NANOL: He says the main interest in reconciliation is to enable the families and children of those involved in the 1990s conflict to lead normal lives.

DAVEONA: Our main aim is really to bring our families to live in peace with a stable mine and knowing that what has happened has happened and let's look forward to a better future.

NANOL: Nevertheless, Bougainville Copper - which once owned the world class Panguna gold and copper mine has indicated its willingness to reopen the facility.

However, with Bougainville seeking the transfer of mining powers by June this year, there's likely to be more trouble ahead - with the autonomous region's government involved in a tug-of-war with Port Moresby over ownership of the island's mineral resources.