Manetai Limestone Project Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government
A planned major industrial development in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville has made progress.
This comes as Bougainville, which is seeking independence from PNG, endeavours to develop a viable economic base.
President Ishmael Toroama said the Manetai Limestone Project is moving ahead with access road clearance and grubbing work in the project area paving the way for exploratory drilling.
He has told Parliament that the progress came after the signing of the Land Access and Compensation Agreement between the traditional landowners and Lakeville Mines Ltd, the project licence holder, earlier this year.
President Toroama said since them Lakeville have undertaken social mapping and a landowner identification study.
Recently a compensation determination exercise involving the landowners and company representatives was undertaken to help them understand the guidelines and rates for compensation for damages and cash crops.
These have been undertaken in close collaboration with relevant ABG departments and landowners belonging to six clans including the Awora, Makiara, Muruan, Dosiana, Bakorin, and Barapa clans.
Land disagreements amongst the clans make the landowner identification and social mapping important tools for mitigating disputes between clan members of the landowner groups.
"Lakeville has also completed their initial Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) which included both desktop studies involving market analysis, geology, engineering and also initial on-site assessments of historic facilities.
"The PFS has provided valuable insights into the technical and financial viability of the project," President Toroama said.
Following the completion of these preliminary assessments, Lakeville is now progressing into activities that will lead to the commissioning of a full Feasibility Study. A key aspect of this next phase is taking more samples to depth via drilling, which aims to confirm the extent and quality of the limestone resource. A completed Feasibility Study is crucial for project financing purposes.
According to the president, the steady progress and positive change in attitude from within the community follows the awareness initiatives carried out mutually by Lakeville, the landowners, and the government.