An Australian academic says the new president of Papua New Guinea's autonomous Bougainville region, James Tanis, regards the future of mining as the most sensitive issue facing the island.
Professor Anthony Regan of the Australian National University says during this week's inauguration celebrations, Mr Tanis indicated that any resumption of large scale mining has to have broad support.
The province plunged into civil war over problems at the Panguna mine 20 years ago and Mr Regan says the new president is keen to keep consulting the people.
"He'll be listening to all views but that there will be no mining in Bougainville unless that is what the people want. That means not only is the Bougainville Resources Development Corporation but also the future of the Bougainville Copper Limited, the Rio Tinto-owned resource development that led to the original conflict back in 1988."
Professor Anthony Regan
