Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB)

Olga Fontanellaz travels to the little-known Reeds Festival in Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The chairman of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), Sir Mel Togolo, has confirmed the company is talking to prospective partners about reopening the mine. But he is unwilling to put a date on when it might reopen.

People Moves: Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Lae Chamber of Commerce

Bougainville’s independence referendum deferral, Papua New Guinea ranked 109 out of 190 in the World Bank’s 2019 Ease of Doing Business Report and possible changes to the Foreign Investment Regulatory Bill. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Two islands make up most of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB): the larger main island for which the region is named, as well as Buka, separated by the Buka Passage, one of the fastest-running currents in the world. Since 2000, ARB has had a unique status among PNG’s provinces, possessing a greater degree of autonomy. The region encompasses smaller atoll chains with rich fishing waters. Bougainville has its own time zone: it is one hour ahead of elsewhere in PNG.

Treasurer Charles Abel puts APEC cost between K900-K1 billion, feasibility plans for five ports, export licences for bech-de-mer likely to be slashed. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.

Establishing a business on a Papua New Guinea island is a difficult challenge. But Robert Critchley, owner of cocoa and copra supplier, Sankamap Exports, describes how it can be done.

Perth-based explorer Kalia Ltd has begun geological surveys on its two licence areas, after winning exploration licences under the new Bougainville Mining Act. Managing Director Terry Larkan tells Business Advantage PNG that, while the licence areas’ resources are unknown, the licences have ‘the right address’.

Newcrest Mining sells its Hidden Valley stake to Harmony Gold, group marketing of coffee exports to South Korea and an agreement to ban harmful fisheries subsidies. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.