Proposed changes to Bougainville's Mining Act have been referred to a parliamentary committee for further discussion.
Inside the pit of abandoned Panguna mine in Bougainville Photo: supplied
The Autonomous Bougainville Government's proposed the changes which have met with widespread opposition as the region prepares for a referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea.
The government last month divulged its plans to re-open the long shut Panguna copper mine and operate it with a company majority owned by Bougainville.
It sought to pass amendments to the Mining Act to accommodate an Australian investor who will jointly own Bougainville Advance Mining.
The Bougainville Advance Mining Holdings Trust Authorisation Bill, the Bougainville Advance Mining Holdings Limited Authorisation Bill, and a bill to amend the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, have all gone through first readings.
However, after community concern over the proposed amendments, the bills were referred to the Legislative Review Committee.