Awareness on cessation of transitional arrangements for mining without tenement
The ABG Department of Mining and Petroleum (DMP) is leading an awareness in Central Bougainville this week on the cessation of transitional arrangements for mining without tenement and the enforcement of offences and penalties provisions of the Bougainville Mining Act 2015 (the Act); especially in relation to artisanal and small-scale mining activities.
This awareness follows a Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) decision for enforcement of the Bougainville Mining Act 2015 offences and penalties provisions as per section 369 of the Act.
Section 369 of the Act provides for transitional arrangements under which an individual Bougainvillean may conduct certain mining activities without a tenement or licence. The Act also authorizes the BEC to designate a date for the cessation of the arrangement.
Consistent with this provision, the BEC had designated the 21st of October 2024 as the date for the cessation of the arrangement, meaning that after the designated date, any mining activity conducted without a valid licence will be deemed as UNAUTHORIZED MINING under the Act and will be subject to offences and penalties under the law.
Any persons wishing to carry out mining activities must apply and get an appropriate licence from the Government (ABG).
According to the ABG Department of Mining and Petroleum as the leading department, the purpose of the awareness is to:
- inform stakeholders on the government’s intervention to enforce the Bougainville Mining Act in relation to small scale mining and gold dealing.
- educate small scale miners on the legal requirements of conducting small scale mining operations and gold dealing in Bougainville as per the Mining Act.
- educate small scale miners and gold dealers on the offences and penalties for non-compliance under the Mining Act, penalties include having any unauthorised gold and unauthorised equipment confiscated and forfeited to the State.
- Inform stakeholders that enforcement will follow suit after adequate awareness and information dissemination has reached all concerned stakeholders.
- Seek support of stakeholders in relation to enforcement.
Director Regulatory Operations Mrs. Lesley Gagesin speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Arawa today revealed that the awareness will cover two constituencies in Central Bougainville, targeting ASM areas in North Nasioi and Panguna respectively.
She further explained that the awareness will be conducted by the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Regulatory Enforcement Taskforce (ASM Taskforce), an ABG cross-sectoral body approved by the BEC made up of leading agencies which include the ABG Department of Mining and Petroleum, ABG Department of Community Government and Bougainville Police Service.
Other supporting agencies include the Department of Lands & Environment, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Law & Justice, Department of Technical Services, Department of Commerce & Trade, Department of Finance & Treasury, ABG Media Directorate and Bougainville Veterans.
“The cross-departmental collaboration seen in the ASM Taskforce is in acknowledgement of the existing multiplicity of socio-economic and environmental issues associated with the ASM sector in Bougainville”, Mrs Gagesin said.
Stakeholders that attended the meeting in Arawa today included Arawa Urban Council, Community Government Ward Members, Managers, Chiefs, Veterans and community leaders from North Nasioi and Panguna. They welcomed the Taskforce and the awareness program and fully endorsed the awareness as some of the ASM activities were affecting and damaging the water systems and environment.
The ASM Taskforce awareness will be at the following locations and dates:
- Tuesday 19th November (tomorrow) awareness at Kaino/Kupe, North Nasioi Constituency
- Wednesday 20th November awareness at Turampu, North Nasioi Constituency
- Thursday 21st November awareness at Moroni roadside, Panguna
- Friday 22nd November awareness at Panguna Mine Pit.
This will be the 3rd round of awareness on this issue by the ASM Taskforce across the various sites where ASM activities are predominant. The ABG is currently putting in place an enforcement framework with enforcement implementation expected to commence in 2025.
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