Australian mining company RTG says Philip Miriori has been confirmed as the chairman of the Special Mining Lease Osikiang Landowners Association.
The association owns the land around the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville.
Bougainville's Panguna Copper mine Photo: Supplied
RTG is one of two companies looking to re-open the copper mine and it has close links with Mr Miriori.
There's been a dispute over who should lead the Osikiang group, with Mr Mirori facing a challenge from former chair, Lawrence Daveona.
RTG chairman Michael Carrick said mediation has resolved the dispute in Mr Miriori's favour.
Mr Carrick said this should lead to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, or ABG, backing RTG's Panguna development plan.
"We look forward now to moving forward in discussions with the ABG given that they gave repeated undertakings at the mediation that the ABG would work with whomever the mediation and the court process proved up as the chairman of the SMLOLA [Special Mining Lease Osikiang Landowners Association] which is Philip Miriori," said Michael Carrick.
