Papua New Guinea Activist Wins Goldman Prize for Mine Remediation Work
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Theonila Roka Matbob of Papua New Guinea has been awarded the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts to repair the environmental and social harms caused by the Panguna copper and gold mine. Her activism, which began in high school, led to a human rights complaint against Rio Tinto, resulting in the company agreeing to fund an independent assessment and later signing a memorandum of understanding to work with impacted communities.
Facts First
- Theonila Roka Matbob wins the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for the island nations category.
- Her work focuses on repairing harms from the Panguna mine, which provoked a decade-long civil war.
- She served as lead complainant in a human rights case against Rio Tinto, which led to an independent assessment and a remediation agreement.
- Roka Matbob is an elected member of Bougainville's House of Representatives.
- The Panguna mine was operated by Rio Tinto and produced millions of tons of copper and hundreds of tons of gold and silver.
What Happened
Theonila Roka Matbob, a 35-year-old Indigenous Nasioi woman from Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Region of Bougainville, has been announced as a winner of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize. She was awarded the prize for the island nations category for her efforts to repair environmental and social harms caused by the Panguna copper and gold mine. The mine, developed by Rio Tinto through its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd., operated from 1972 to 1989. Its operations provoked a decade-long civil war involving a separatist insurgency and military intervention, which claimed thousands of lives. Roka Matbob began her activism as a high school student leading protests. She later served as the lead complainant in a human rights complaint filed by the Human Rights Law Centre against Rio Tinto. In 2021, Rio Tinto agreed to fund an independent assessment, and in 2024, the company signed a memorandum of understanding to work with impacted communities to address and remediate the situation.
Why this Matters to You
This award highlights a path for communities to seek accountability from large corporations for historical environmental damage and social conflict. If you live in an area affected by industrial operations, this story shows that persistent advocacy can lead to formal agreements for remediation. The process may offer a template for other communities seeking to address legacy harms. For investors and consumers, it underscores the growing importance of corporate responsibility for past actions, which could influence future business practices and investment decisions.
What's Next
The memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 suggests Rio Tinto and the impacted communities are now formally committed to working together on remediation. This process is likely to involve detailed assessments and concrete cleanup actions. Roka Matbob's elevated profile as a Goldman Prize winner and an elected member of Bougainville's House of Representatives could strengthen her ability to advocate for her community's needs during this remediation work. The Human Rights Law Centre's report, 'After the mine: Living with Rio Tinto's deadly legacy,' may continue to inform the ongoing efforts.