“Pressespiegel: Mining in the South Pacific“ Jg. 2, Nr. 3, Mai – Juni 2010, 112 Seiten Redaktion/compilation: Deutsch-Pazifische Gesellschaft e.V., German Pacific Society Dr. Roland Seib, Hobrechtstr. 28, 64285 Darmstadt www.deutsch-pazifische-gesellschaft.de/bergbau Copyright: The material is copyrighted by the media and authors quoted. Abbreviations: BCL: Bougainville Copper Limited LNG: Liquid Natural Gas PIR: Pacific Islands Report ( http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/graphics.shtml ) PNG: Papua New Guinea ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bougainville: Momis rejects BRDC model The National 30.6.2010 By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI AUTONOMOUS Region of Bougainville President John Momis will order a full investigation into the deal with foreign firm Invincible that led to the establishment of the Bougainville Investment Corporation (formerly Bougainville Resource Development Corporation). Momis said yesterday that the deal was not only illegal but not practical for any government to attempt to make a contract that purports to tie the government’s hands as to future policy. The president said he was concerned about these matters which strike at the core of Bougainville’s efforts to revitalise and grow the 2 economy. He said he would seek his cabinet’s approval to launch a fullscale review of this deal and related matters. Momis said in his inaugural speech that corruption would find zero tolerance in his government. He warned that corrupt ministers, elected members, officials and investors could expect to face cri- minal prosecutions. He said there were many unanswered questions and issues relating to the BRDC and Invincible deal, and the review or investigations would put these questions to rest. After taking office two weeks ago, and studying documents presented to him concerning the development agreement between the ABG and the BRDC, Momis said he was not satisfied that the arrangement was in the best interest of the people of Bougainville. He said the agreement contravened significant provisions of the Bougainville constitution and parts of the Bougainville peace agreement and the PNG Constitution. He said, in essence, the agreement and its corresponding legislation bind the hand of the Bougainville government when it needed to urgently grow the economy and move to- wards fiscal self-reliance. Momis said based on the documents provided to him, it seemed that BRDC was a company owned by four other companies or entities, namely: 1. AROB Equities Limited; 2. Bougainville Veterans Holdings; 3. Bougainville Pioneers Corporation Ltd; and 4. Invincible. He said the agreement, in its substantive clauses, deal with exploration for and exploitation of min- eral resources covering the whole of Bougainville. The agreement also called for investments in other areas of economic activities including a gold melt assay facility, bio-diesel, fishing, cattle production and other proposals including a tourism project. He said the people of Bougainville would be kept informed of the progress of the review of this deal. PNG, AUSSIE MINISTERS TO MEET OVER GAS FUNDS ‘Sovereign wealth funds’ to protect gas revenues PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 30, 2010) - The first Papua New Guinea – Australia LNG Ministerial meeting will be held in Melbourne tomorrow to discuss the es- tablishment of sovereign wealth funds as a vehicle for management of revenue flows from the PNG LNG Project. “I welcome this opportunity to work with the Australian Government to set up a framework for transparency and good governance in the management of future LNG revenue flows,” the Minister for Public Enterprises, Arthur Somare, said yesterday. The official PNG dele- gation will include Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Sam Abal, National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Public Services Minister Peter O’Neill and Commerce and Industry Minister Gabriel Kapris. The Ministerial delegation will discuss possible Australian assistance for the creation of a transparent governance regime covering taxes and dividends received by the PNG Government from the LNG project. “The Government needs to have these measures in place before the LNG revenue starts to flow in about five years’ time,” Minister Somare said. Under a Joint Understanding signed with the Australian Government late last year PNG requested that Australia help set up an effective and transparent governance regime for LNG project revenue to provide international credibility for a challenging undertaking. Besides creating “a transparent, robust legislative framework”, the Australian Government has also agreed to co-opt a team of inter- national economists to carry out economic modeling on the impact of the $US15 billion PNG LNG Project. The specially created econometric model would provide the National Government with a clear picture of the likely development impacts from sectoral spending generated from LNG reve- nues. Mr Somare said studies by the Department of State Enterprises supported a proposal to place 3 dividends from the National Government’s 16.6 per cent equity stake in the PNG LNG Project in an offshore Infrastructure Fund. PNG PROTEST MARCH PLANNED DESPITE WARNINGS Organizers rally against relaxed mining regulations By Rosalyn Evara and Poreni Umau PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier 30.6.2010) - DESPITE advice from po- lice and Madang Governor Sir Arnold Amet against today’s protest in Madang on the amendments to the environmental law, organisers say the event will go ahead. Sir Arnold during a press confer- ence said he had advised the administration and police to inform the organisers that the event should not proceed because of the Supreme Court reference on the “constitutionality of the amendments”. However he said he was available to discuss any matters community leaders and other civil society leaders might be concerned about. “I have made it clear that my office is open to discussing any is- sues of concern to our people and I have extended an invitation to all groups who have legitimate concerns to raise with government. “I therefore invite leaders of any groups of people if you have serious and important issues you may wish to discuss on behalf of our people to please come and discuss them with me and the government. Madang provincial police commander Superintendent Anthony Wagambie (Jnr) also reiterated the stance by the Governor stating that because of the Supreme Court reference that was in place, it would be subjudice (in contempt of court) to stage this event. However, George Ireng from Karkar Island and Raicoast who in recent months has been vocal against the issue of deep sea tailings said organisers would still go ahead with the march. Mr Ireng said the event was supposed to have taken place last week but on request from police and the provincial administration in light of the visit by the Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, organisers had agreed to defer the event. He said this was on the understanding the event would be held this week. He said they had obtained clearance from police on Monday again only to be told at the 11th hour to cancel. Mr Ireng said the event kicks off at 9am starting from Laiwaden. He confirmed that many will be participating including students from the tertiary institutions. NEW CALDEONIA ACID SPILL TRIGGERS PROTEST Environmentalists angry over lack of prosecution WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 29, 2010) – Environmenta- lists in New Caledonia are planning a demonstration against the lack of legal action for last April’s acid spill from the Vale nickel mining plant. The leak killed thousands of fish and affected the World Heritage protected Prony Bay during a test run of Vale New Caledonia’s new facility. Marina Kahlemu of the environmental group Corail Vivant says locals are also angry about an incident last week in which a worker was burnt by acid at the plant. Noumea’s daily newpaper reported the 54-year old was flown to Sydney for treatment. Ms Kahlemu says a mass gathering of environmental groups and local people is planned outside the offices of the South Province authorities which has been under fire for delaying the legal process. Radio New Zealand International: www.rnzi.com 4 Hindernisse für Metalle aus der Tiefsee heise online, 25.06.2010 Während die Öl-Industrie darüber nachdenkt, wie man die Offshore-Förderung sicherer machen kann, arbeiten Wissenschaftler und Unternehmen mit Hochdruck daran, auch seltene Metalle aus der Tiefsee zu fördern. Doch die Ausbeutung der Tiefsee erweist sich als schwieriger als zunächst gedacht, berichtet Technology Review in seiner aktuellen Ausgabe. Seit 2002 haben sich die welt- weiten Ausgaben für die Tiefsee-Exploration auf mehr als 13 Milliarden Euro versechsfacht. Im Unterschied zu den 1970er-Jahren, als man schon einmal die industrielle Erschließung der Tiefsee testete, scheint es nun ernst zu sein. Gold, Kobalt, Kupfer, Molybdän, Neodym oder Indium – all das ist in der Tiefsee reichlich vorhanden und für die moderne Elektronik unverzichtbar. "Anders als in den Siebzigern ist eine Metallknappheit eine realistische Aussicht", sagt Johannes Post vom Meerestechnikunternehmen Hydromod Service GmbH aus Hannover, Co-Autor einer neuen Studie für das Bundeswirtschaftsministerium zur Erschließung der Meeresressourcen. Allein in der "Clarion-Clipperton-Zone", einem Gebiet 4000 Kilometer westlich von Mexiko, das Deutschland von der Internationalen Meeresbodenbehörde lizenziert hat und das etwas größer als Bayern