In May 1971, the Bougainville Mining Limited offered 18,917,073 ordinary shares of AU50 cents to the public for subscription at a premium of $1.05 per share. Of the 50,755 shareholders who were allotted shares, 9,007 were residents of Papua New Guinea . The Papua New Guinea Government took up a 20% share option.

In 1973 a corporate restructuring was effected, which simplified the structure of the companies. This resulted in a closer identification of public shareholders with Papua New Guinea . Through a Scheme of Arrangement, shareholders in Bougainville Mining Limited received Bougainville Copper Limited shares in exchange for their comparable Bougainville Mining Limited shares in the ration of six Copper shares for each five Mining shares previously held. Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) became the listed company on the Australian Associated Stock Exchanges and on the Stock Exchange Association of New Zealand with trading in the new shares commencing on 29 October. Payment of the first dividend to the then holding company and the Papua New Guinea Government from 1972 earnings.

The return on shareholders' funds in 1979 reached its highest level since 1974. Payment of the 1979 final dividend of 20 toea per share and 1979 bonus dividend of 10 toea per share brought dividend payments since 1972 to a total of K390 million. At the Annual General Meeting in April 1980, shareholders approved an increase in authorised share capital, a 2 for 1 bonus share issue from Asset Revaluation Reserve and a consolidation of 50 toea shares into one kina shares.

In 1987, BCL's achieved its best year's results since 1974, with net earnings of K93.6 million, representing a return on shareholders' funds of 16.0% with a gross dividend per one kina share of 23 toea. This was even better in 1988 when the gross dividend per one kina share was 27 toea. By 1988, the total income generated to shareholders from dividends was K577 million, 36% of the total benefits.

At the 1998 Annual General Meeting shareholders were advised that BCL property was being stolen and destroyed as part of a commercial scrap metal business. Legal action by BCL stopped this illegal trade but not before considerable damage was caused to mine site and port infrastructure.

In 1999 the Board considered whether it was in the shareholders' interest to list on the newly established Port Moresby Stock Exchange. Two advantages that might flow from such a listing were the potential to raise equity in the local market and the ability to trade locally. Given BCL had no immediate prospects of mine development there was no current need to raise equity. There was also no advantage for the vast majority of shareholders in a local listing as over 90% of shareholders do not hold a tradeable parcel of shares. Listing carries with it costs and additional administration. In the circumstances the Board did not propose at that stage that BCL be listed on the local exchange.

Over half the dividend cheques issued in 2001 were not presented for payment. This figure was much higher than expected so it was not intended to pay another dividend until a program was undertaken to determine why this had occurred and what was needed in any future distribution to shareholders.