Bougainville president John Momis is asking Australia for more aid if a referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea as early as 2015 is to be genuine.
Mr Momis will meet officials in Canberra this week.
He has warned Bougainville's autonomous government must be able to deliver real benefits to the population if autonomy is to be seen as a genuine alternative.
He says there is a good chance of reopening the Panguna gold and copper mine or commencing new mines, but says revenue from such projects will take too long to flow through.
"This is not a matter of growing dependence," he said.
"Rather, we will mainly need increased support in these next few years before sustainable long-term revenues begin to flow."
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