Panguna lawsuit emerges

The long-anticipated lawsuit against Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited [BCL], filed by Landowners of the Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has resurfaced at the Waigani National Court.

Deputy chief Judge Ambeng Kandakasi dealt with the matter and formally transferred the class action proceeding over to Justice Thomas Anis under the commercial court track.

The class action is filed by Martin Miriori on behalf of landowners from within and surrounding the historical Panguna mine site.

The lawsuit against the mining giant and its subsidiary is seeking compensation in billions of Kina for the damage done to the environment and mismanagement of the Panguna mine between 1972 and 1989.

Rio Tinto and BCL who are defendants in the class action proceeding, have filed separate dismissal applications to have the matter struck out.

However the plaintiffs on the other hand have applied for an injunction.

Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi issued several orders including shifting the matter to the commercial court track and adjourning for 3 months.

This is to allow lawyers representing the parties to prepare submissions before the matter returns on the 19th and 20th of February 2025 for the hearing of the two dismissal applications and injunction applications.

The plaintiffs are represented by Law firms Morris Mennilli of Sydney, Australia and Goodwin Bidar Nutley of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The defendants Rio Tinto and BCL are represented by Denton's PNG lawyers.

The proceedings are conducted as a class action on behalf of current and former residents of Bougainville who have suffered loss or damage as a result of the operation of the Panguna Mine in 1972 to its subsequent abandonment.