The Autonomous Bougainville Government has introduced legislation aimed at creating a special legal framework for the redevelopment of a previously operating large-scale mine, describing the move as critical to the region's long-term economic future and fiscal self-reliance.
The Bougainville Mining (Amendment) Bill 2026 was introduced in Parliament this week by Ishmael Toroama, who also serves as minister responsible for mining and petroleum.
According to Toroama, the proposed amendments to the Bougainville Mining Act 2015 would establish a statutory pathway for the orderly and accelerated redevelopment of a former large-scale mining operation where the Bougainville Executive Council determines that such redevelopment is in the national and public interest.
"The existing Mining Act was primarily designed for new mining projects progressing through the conventional exploration-to-development pathway and did not adequately address the unique circumstances of redeveloping a previously operating large-scale mine," Toroama said.
He said the current legislation contemplates a sequential process beginning with greenfield exploration, followed by resource definition, feasibility assessment, mine development, commercial production, closure and eventual redevelopment.
The president stressed that the bill would not remove or weaken the core principles of the existing mining regime, including landowner rights, compensation arrangements, benefit-sharing mechanisms and environmental protections.
Under the proposed amendments, customary landowners would receive a prescribed percentage of free, non-dilutable equity in an eligible mining lease holder, giving them direct ownership participation in redevelopment projects.
"Landowner rights, compensation rights, local content participation and benefit sharing rights and royalties are preserved. Landowner equity participation is preserved and strengthened," Toroama said.
He added that environmental approvals, mineral resource forum requirements, community consultation processes and development agreement obligations would remain mandatory.
The bill proposes that the special redevelopment framework apply only in exceptional circumstances where a previously operating large-scale mine exists, an established mineral deposit has been identified, legacy issues remain unresolved, redevelopment is considered necessary for Bougainville's economic future and fiscal self-reliance, and the Bougainville Executive Council is satisfied that redevelopment serves the national and public interest.
"This Bill is about economic self-reliance. It is about responsible resource development, strengthening Bougainville ownership of strategic mineral assets and ensuring that landowners participate as true partners in development," Toroama said.
The Bougainville Mining (Amendment) Bill 2026 has completed its first reading in Parliament and will proceed through the remaining stages of the legislative process before being considered for passage and enactment.
