The multinational company Rio Tinto was the driving force behind the Panguna mine in Bougainville - the mine that sparked its 10 year bloody civil war.
That war was partly waged over the environmental and social destruction wrought by the mine, and for many years Bougainvilleans have been seeking redress from the mining giant.
But in 2016 Rio walked away, giving its shares in Bougainville Copper Ltd to the Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments, wiping its hands of any future involvement at Panguna.
University of Queensland academic Volker Boege spoke to Don Wiseman about the need for the company to listen to its critics and address its failings.
The Panguna copper and gold mine in Bougainville was closed down for operations in 1989 at the start of the civil war. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
