The President of Bougainville, John Momis, says his government is going ahead with legal action against mining giant Rio Tinto over the destruction caused by the Panguna mine.
Rio Tinto was the majority owner of Bougainville Copper Ltd, which ran the mine for 20 years before it was shut down by a civil war, fostered by environmental and social damage attributed to the mine.
Rio Tinto's shares in BCL were given to the Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments and the multi-national walked away from further involvement.
Mr Momis, whose government was now the biggest shareholder in BCL, said his administration would still prosecute Rio Tinto over its Panguna legacy.
"We are going to pursue this matter as a moral issue because they caused so much damage and just think they can get away scot free," he said.
Bougainville's Panguna Copper mine Photo: Supplied