Part 5/9:
Bougainville's quest for autonomy and eventual independence was significantly influenced by the discovery of the Panguna mine, one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines, which contributed disproportionately to Papua New Guinea’s economy. Despite this, Bougainvilleans received a minimal share of profits—only 0.5 to 1.25%—while the vast majority went to the Australian company, Bougainville Copper Limited. Environmental damage from the mine exacerbated local grievances, leading to the Bougainville Civil War from 1988 to 1998, resulting in international involvement from neighboring Solomon Islands and Fiji.