Bougainville presses ahead with Panguna copper mine restart after attack

Bougainville's government will forge ahead with its controversial plans to restart operations at the Panguna copper mine, President Ishmael Toroama said on Thursday, dismissing concerns about an attack on a mining facility in the region.

Toroama condemned the assault on the camp and signalled his administration's determination to proceed with reopening the mine, which has remained closed for decades. The attack underscores growing tensions surrounding the proposed restart of one of the world's largest copper deposits.

The Panguna mine was shuttered in 1989 following a period of civil unrest, making it a sensitive issue for Bougainvilleans. While the government has positioned the mine's reopening as economically vital for the autonomous Papua New Guinea region, the proposal has faced resistance from local communities and environmental advocates concerned about the project's impact.

Toroama's comments suggest the government intends to push forward with development plans despite the security incident and ongoing public opposition. The stance reflects the administration's view that mining revenues are essential for Bougainville's economic development, even as concerns persist over the project's social and environmental implications.