Bougainville s President has firmly rejected a claim that an Australian company, Caballus Mining, will operate the Panguna mine.
Ishmael Toroama has released a statement in response to a landowner group, Panguna Tangkuúrang Chiefs, claiming that they d given approval for Caballus.
The Panguna copper and gold mine in Bougainville was closed down for operations in 1989 at the start of the civil war.
Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The company had been in talks with the Autonomous Bougainville Government under former president John Momis regarding the potential re-opening of the large copper and gold mine.
But Toroama has made a clear departure from any links with the company.