Resource owners have demanded that the Mineral Resources Bill 2023 be deferred to allow for further consultations and review before it is tabled in parliament.
They made their stand known during a three-day consultation held in Honiara this week on the proposed mining legislation.
The bill had been sent to the cabinet during the last government, and this week’s consultation was expected to be the final step before it is presented to parliament. The new bill is meant to repeal the outdated existing Mines and Mineral Act 1990.
Copy of the new bill
However, resource owners and victims of past mining operations expressed their disappointment with the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s handling of this important piece of legislation.
Central Bank Governor Dr Luke Forau is among those who participated in this week’s consultations.
“My concern is that the governance of the sector must be done properly, especially what we are doing now, the consultation,” Forau, who is also a member of the Mines and Mineral Board, said.
“This bill must be done properly so that when we exploit our resources, we get good returns for all parties involved,” he added.
“What we don’t want to see is people being left out without benefiting from their resources. The government must ensure resource owners receive maximum benefit.”
From Rennell Island, where a controversial mining operation started in 2015 and ceased only in 2020, Richie Tepuke Pautangata shared his experience with the participants.
“As a victim of illegal mining operations, I see this new bill as worse than the existing Act,” Pautangata, a teacher by profession, said.
“I would like to see the powers given to the minister of mines in this bill, removed,” he added.
West Rennel Resources owner, Richie Tepuke Pautangata, expressed his dissatisfaction with the new Mineral Resources Bil 2023. Credits: Charley Piringi
Pautangata sharply criticized the minister’s decisions as politically driven and called for the Mines and Minerals Board, composed of technical experts, to be the final decision-making body.
“Our experience on Rennell should serve as a lesson for the country,” he lamented.
Director of Mines Krista Tatapu assured everyone that their concerns would be noted and included in the draft bill.
She told In-depth Solomons that her office had to prioritize the bill as it is part of the new Government of National Unity and Transformation’s (GNUT) 100-day policy.
“The time frame for the bill for us is immediate. After this consultation, we will gather all the recommendations before our task force. We might call for another consultation later.”
Director of Mines, Krista J. Tatapu, during the consultation workshop on the Mineral Resources Bill 2023, in Honiara today| Credits: Charley Piringi
Dick Douglas of Gold Ridge stated that the new bill is designed to benefit investors primarily.
“This bill must not be taken lightly. It needs more consultations to ensure resource owners have their say as they will be directly affected and they are always losers,” Douglas said.
Green Party President and environmental activist Lawrence Makili said there’s a need to remove the powers vested in the minister to overrule the Mines and Minerals Board decisions.
“As with the current act, the new bill still allows the minister of mines to overrule any decision made by the mines and minerals board,” Makili said.
“The minister knows nothing about mining, so why is so much power given to him? He is not a technical person,” he added.
“This bill should not be rushed for the GNUT’s 100-day policy. It is an important law that will affect the lives of Solomon Islanders.
Green Party President and environmental activist Lawrence Makili expressed his disappointment on the bill. Credits: Charley Piringi
“We must be more serious about this rather than just to fulfill investors’ obligations we hold with us. Whose interest is this rush for?”
The former Sogavare-led DCGA Government came up with a policy of fast-tracking mining activities across the country.
Following that policy, a good number of mining tenements and mining/ prospecting leases have been issued over the past years.
Participants of the consultation attentively listened to the presentations| Credits: Charley Piringi
In his victory speech, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said:
“The Government for National Unity and Transformation has already begun work on our Policy and 100 days program. Several legislations are ready to come before Parliament. These Bills include the Value Added Tax Bill, Special Economic Zone Bill, Mineral Resources Bill, Forestry Bill, and others.”
The three-day consultation concluded with a resolution that calls for further consultations before the bill is tabled in parliament.
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