Bougainville Copper (ASX:BOC) said that the Papua New Guinea government has transferred a total of 146.2 million ordinary shares in the company to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, comprising 36.45% of the issued capital of the company, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.

The share transfer included 76.4 million shares from the Papua New Guinea government, processed on Jan. 9, and 69.7 million shares from Eda Minerals, which is owned by Kumul Minerals, a state-owned enterprise, processed on Jan. 12.

There is no change to the company's issued capital as a result of these transactions, the filing added.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government now owns or controls about 72.9% of the shares on issue in the company, inclusive of its interest through Bougainville Minerals.