President Toroama congratulates people of Kongara and Exploration Partners on First Drilling
ABG President and Minister responsible for Mining and Petroleum, His Excellency Ishmael Toroama, has congratulated the leaders, clan chiefs and people of Kongara Constituency in Central Bougainville, following the commencement of the first drilling at the EL02 exploration site last week.
President Toroama visited the EL02 site to witness the first drilling carried out by Island Passage Exploration Limited (IPX), in partnership with Isina Resource Holdings Limited which marked a significant milestone in the project.
The President thanked the leaders and people of Kongara for approving Island Passage Exploration Limited and Isina Resource Holdings to carry out their first drilling after many years.
“I want to make a special acknowledgement to all the leaders and clan chiefs; you are the ones who have given the approval for Island Passage and Isina Holdings to carry out the drilling, so I want to congratulate you.”
With the recent amendments to the 2015 Mining Act, the ABG is ensuring landowners are at the forefront of decision-making on their land and resources. President Toroama emphasized that Bougainville’s natural resources will build the important infrastructure and support our broader socio-economic priorities.
“Based on our fight, we have the Mining Act 2015, which we are amending. When we are making certain amendments, we are making sure that we recognize who we are and what resources we have. Your resource is to build hospitals, roads, to send our children to school and to develop our homes.”
His Excellency reminded the people of Kongara that, as land and resource owners, they have the final say in the development takes place on their land, in terms of exploration and other activities beyond that, and the government has strengthened the legal framework to uphold their decisions.
“I encourage you youths to help Island Passage and Isina Holding to complete the drilling, and when it is done you will give them the permission; all the decisions on the next phase of development will be yours to decide. The government has given you the opportunity and the law, and nothing will take place outside the law.”
“The law is there to protect firstly the land owners, secondly the investors and thirdly the investment that we are bringing in. The government is here to protect these through the law. Do not think that the government is trying to control the resources, no. If the investor leaves you, the government has a responsibility under the Mining Act 2015 to assist you if interferences occur.”
He reaffirmed the government’s support to Island Passage and Isina Holdings and that the exploration and drilling must be completed around sites from Kongara 1 to 2, as the results will be the guarantee for future development in the region.
He reiterated that redevelopment of Panguna Mine has brought about the development of the Arawa Level 7 Hospital and has also created the opportunity for employment for numerous Bougainvilleans.
As Bougainville progresses towards declaring Self-Government in 2027 and Independence in 2030, the Autonomous Bougainville Government, under the leadership of the Toroama-Masatt Government, is now focused on development that will build internal revenue and guarantee the region’s political independence.
As the Minister for Mining, he strongly spoke against the involvement of youths in participating in destroying investments and disrupting developments, in regards to the recent incident that occurred in Panguna.
The drilling at the site was a historic step in collecting geological data on mineral deposits in the Kongara region. It also signified an important achievement in Bougainville’s mineral exploration activities, approximately 60 years after the first drilling at Panguna.
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