Papua New Guinea's copper-rich island of Bougainville plans to introduce legislation that will see traditional landowners share mineral rights with their government.
President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government John Momis has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the re-opening of the mine will be on his terms.
"Rio Tinto will have to deal with us," he said.
Dissatisfaction over the sharing of benefits from Rio Tinto's giant Panguna mine in the 1990s led to a 10-year civil war on Bougainville, leaving thousands dead.
The mining legislation will be a world first, allowing landowners and the government to share rights to sub-surface minerals.
President Momis says landowners will have a power of veto over exploration and will also have a right to object once the development process begins.
"The underlying philosophy for our new mining act is empowering people," he said.
"Giving people the power to make political decisions about development, not just being mere passive recipients of benefits."
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