Papua New Guinea: the next global resource capital? SubscribeBe the first with the news that moves the market When it comes to global mining darlings, countries like China, Australia, and South Africa have dominated the world stage. However, just north of Queensland resides a small country piquing worldwide interest. Papua New Guinea is being eyed by some of the biggest players in the mining game as a new hotspot for resource opportunities. A steady rebuild In reality, mining in Papua New Guinea has been going on since the early 19th Century. It was a slow build-up for the small country, but the 1960s brought with them a porphyry copper boom in the country.