Work for Field Campaign 2 begins on the 24 th of July and will continue until mid-to-late August. Over this time, the scientists will be conducting structural engineering surveys, collecting water quality and geochemical samples, and speaking to people in communities to understand social impacts from the mine.
Ground and aerial surveying known as LiDAR (Light imaging, detection and ranging) surveys took place earlier in July. Data was collected from a plane flying around Panguna, the Port and Arawa township, and up and down the coast. Information was also gathered from weather stations setup for the study.
The field investigations for Field Campaign 2 will be completed across the Panguna Mine affected areas in the Loloho port, in and around the Panguna Mine, the river system including the Kawerong River, Jaba River, Kuneka Creek, and in the delta area.
Field Campaign 2 is the second of three field campaigns that are planned for this year after the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment was launched by the Autonomous Bougainville Government President in Arawa in December 2022. The field study is an important part of the wider Legacy Impact Assessment which is scheduled to run until mid-2024.
The field investigations for the Impact Assessment will be completed by an experienced team of local and global experts from consulting firm, Tetra Tech Coffey. Tetra Tech Coffey was appointed as the independent primary contractor by the PMLIA Oversight Committee in November 2022. It has a team made up of local Bougainvillean, Papua New Guinean and international experts and scientists.
Tetra Tech Coffey scientists rely on the support of the local communities to provide safe access to areas for the collection of soil, water, and food data and to directly participate in the process through surveys and engagement.
The Impact Assessment funded by the Panguna Legacy Assessment Company, is an independent assessment of the environmental impacts caused by the mine, and the subsequent social and human rights impacts directly connected to these environmental impacts. The results of the impact assessment will be presented to the Oversight Committee in mid-2024 and will be translated and shared back with impacted communities and the public.
The Impact Assessment process is a neutral process, and participating in this process does not restrict a person's right to participate in any other process. The impact assessment process is not connected to any agenda surrounding the mine re-opening or not re-opening.
From the data collected from the Impact Assessment, recommendations will be made on actions that need to be taken to address any impacts from the mine. No actions will be agreed upon or taken by the Oversight Committee until the Impact Assessment is completed in mid-2024.
Oversight Committee member Bonaventure Kenulei said, “The impact assessment process is progressing well. Important data from communities impacted by the Panguna Mine was successfully collected in Field Campaign 1 and we thank local communities for their support of this process.
“The researchers from Tetra Coffey will be continuing their work with communities to get the access and information they need. It is important the support for the impact assessment continues so Tetra Tech Coffey can gather comprehensive data in Field Campaign 2 and 3 to help inform the final report to the Oversight Committee.”
The Oversight Committee oversees the entire Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment process and includes representatives from the Autonomous Bougainville Government, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, landowner, clan and community leaders from the affected area, the Human Rights Law Centre, Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited.
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For additional information on the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment, please visit the dedicated website: https://bit.ly/44I6FUM
There are various ways to lodge a Complaint or voice a concern about the assessment process:
• By phone:→+675 71449914
• By email:→ PMLIA.Secretariat@gmail.com
• By mail:→ c-PO Box 313, Waigani
• In person:→ at the PMLIA office, Ioro 2 Community Government Building
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