Panguna
Panguna is a town and a (now decommissioned) copper mine on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. It was owned and operated by Bougainville Copper Ltd, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. Beginning operations in 1972, the company hired thousands of workers, most from other parts of the country.
By the end of its operations on May 15, 1989, when the mine was closed because of an armed uprising on the island, it was the largest open-pit mine in the world. It was accused of contaminating large areas due to its toxic waste, which affected land, water and air. Resentment against the environmental poisoning and the fact that most profits left the island, were major catalysts in the unrest in Bougainville in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to the Bougainville conflict, which lasted from 1988 until 1998. In 2011 it was reported that former PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had alleged that Rio Tinto played a role in the conflict by helping finance the actions of the PNG government in Bougainville during the conflict in an attempt to allow the mine to be reopened.
* History of Bougainville
* Bougainville Copper Ltd
* Bougainville Revolutionary Army
By the end of its operations on May 15, 1989, when the mine was closed because of an armed uprising on the island, it was the largest open-pit mine in the world. It was accused of contaminating large areas due to its toxic waste, which affected land, water and air. Resentment against the environmental poisoning and the fact that most profits left the island, were major catalysts in the unrest in Bougainville in the 1970s and 1980s, leading to the Bougainville conflict, which lasted from 1988 until 1998. In 2011 it was reported that former PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had alleged that Rio Tinto played a role in the conflict by helping finance the actions of the PNG government in Bougainville during the conflict in an attempt to allow the mine to be reopened.
* History of Bougainville
* Bougainville Copper Ltd
* Bougainville Revolutionary Army
Map - Panguna
Map
Country - Papua_New_Guinea
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| Flag of Papua New Guinea | |
At the national level, after being ruled by three external powers since 1884, including nearly 60 years of Australian administration starting during World War I, Papua New Guinea established its sovereignty in 1975. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1975 with Elizabeth II as its queen. It also became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in its own right.
Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGK | Papua New Guinean kina | K | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| EN | English language |
| HO | Hiri Motu language |