Supporting outcomes in Bougainville: The Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment
Tetra Tech Coffey was engaged by the Panguna Legacy Impact Assessment Company as the independent contractor to deliver Phase 1 of the Legacy Impact Assessment for the former Panguna Mine, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
At Tetra Tech Coffey, we are proud of our role for the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment, a vital project addressing the long-standing environmental, social and human rights impacts of the Panguna Mine. We were engaged as the independent contractor to conduct the Legacy Impact Assessment, focusing on identifying and assessing the actual and potential environmental, social, and human rights impacts caused by the mine since operations ceased in 1989. This assessment was a significant undertaking involving our Australian, Port Moresby and Bougainville teams with support from other international subject matter experts and teams around the world.
Our Role and Progress
Since November 2021, Tetra Tech Coffey has been working closely with the Panguna Legacy Oversight Committee—comprising representatives from the local communities, Autonomous Bougainville Government, the Government of Papua New Guinea, Rio Tinto Limited, and the Human Rights Law Centre— and the Independent Facilitator and Secretariat to conduct the assessment process. This strong governance structure has provided for a collaborative and rigorous process that allows diverse voices to be heard and a focus on the priorities of affected communities to be maintained.
Our work has involved detailed environmental, social and human rights investigations, and field research. In December 2024 a significant milestone was reached with the final report for Phase 1 of the Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment being publicly released. The report represents the first comprehensive effort to document and evaluate the actual and potential environmental, social, and human rights impacts caused by the mine since operations ceased in 1989. It is focused on the most serious areas of concern to communities and is the largest study of its kind ever undertaken in Bougainville. The report provides recommendations for what needs to be remedied to address or mitigate the human rights impacts as well as outlining areas for further investigation. It is an important first step towards addressing the legacy impacts of the mine.
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Engaging Communities and Building Capacity
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been engaging directly with local stakeholders a rights-respecting process to allow their perspectives and needs to be at the heart of the assessment. Input from the local community shaped every aspect of the process and included participation in social and human rights surveys as well as environmental investigations. In addition to presenting the draft results to the Oversight Committee and Ward Leaders, Tetra Tech Coffey presented the draft results to the local communities in Tok Pisin in a series of five presentation sessions throughout the impacted area. These sessions allowed us to share draft results, get feedback from the community and incorporate the feedback into the final report.
A Commitment to Excellence and Integrity
As an independent contractor, Tetra Tech Coffey’s role was to provide unbiased, evidence-based results that empower stakeholders to make informed decisions. This aligned with our core values of transparency, inclusivity, and technical excellence. Our multidisciplinary team included specialists in environmental science, social studies, human rights and spatial data, and Tetra Tech experts from around the world, who worked diligently to uphold these standards throughout the project.
“For our team, this work is more than a professional challenge—it’s an honour to have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to such an important issue for Bougainville”. Dan Moriarty – Tetra Tech Coffey Project Director
Looking Ahead
Tetra Tech remain committed to supporting the future phases of the Legacy Impact Assessment. The path forward involves not only understanding the legacy impacts of the Panguna Mine but also informing the development of long-term solutions to address human rights impacts while fostering trust and collaboration among stakeholders.
This project exemplifies the meaningful and impactful work that we are proud to undertake. It highlights our dedication to technical excellence, client service, and making a difference in the communities where we operate. It has been a privilege for everyone involved to contribute to initiatives that embody our values with the potential to create lasting positive outcomes.
For more information contact:
Dan Moriarty, Project Director | [email protected]
Kristen Hall, Project Manager | [email protected]
Tara Halliday, Social, Human Health and Human Rights Study Coordinator | [email protected]
Read more
Panguna Secretariat http://tanorama.com/pangunasecretariat.html
Rio Tinto Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment report released – Panguna Mine Legacy Impact Assessment report released
Human Rights Law Centre – Landmark investigation into former Rio Tinto Panguna mine confirms major environmental damage and life-threatening risks to communities | Human Rights Law Centre