Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) chairman, Mel Togolo, says the company aims to work positively and constructively with both the PNG and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG).
He also said the company wishes to create goodwill among communities as they plan to redevelop Panguna Mine.
Togolo said this following the company’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday.
Togolo said it was important to note that BCL was a PNG company with both the PNG and ABG governments as major shareholders.
“The National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have 36.4 percent each. They own the company because they have significant interest in the company on behalf of their respective people,” said Togolo.
Given their majority shareholding, it was important that positive and constructive relationship was in place.
“We respect the Government of the day. We want to work together, and also we know that the Government, the Bougainville Government like the Papua New Guinea Government, have got significant interests as shareholders and their interest as a board we’ll have to look after that interest and to make sure that we create goodwill and understanding among the community in order for us to redevelop the Panguna Mine.”
With the referendum approaching, Togolo says that is a political process they will not be involved in.
But they encouraged both governments to work together during the process.
“But as a company we are focused to see how we can redevelop the mine which will be of benefit to Bougainvillean people and the Government of Papua New Guinea.”