Deep sea sampling causes fear and confusion

Fear and confusion are growing amongst the locals in New Ireland, following sampling of the sea bed in May this year.

An off shore tug supply ship, Coco, engaged by Deep Sea Finance Limited was reported to be in the province carrying out sampling of the seabed.

Alliance of Solwara Warriors Coordinator and Spokesperson Jonathan Mesulam told NBC News, the locals were shocked to learn of this after an alert by a foreign journalist in June.

He says they are unaware of discussions with the company:

“So if they were not informed then the tenement holder has failed its part to inform the local authorities, particularly the local level government, provincial government and also the landowners.

“That is quite surprising to me but when we issue a license it is incumbent on the tenement holders to undertake normal awareness during the course of their work program or during the term of their license really,” Garry said.

Mesulam has slammed the lack of transparency in government agencies especially in light of such proposed projects.

He questioned the validity of the exploration licenses issued to the Canadian company, Nautilus Minerals holdings who then transferred to Deep sea mining finance limited:

“Yes, we are well and truly aware of it. The vessel is MV Coco and it was in country on the 28th of May for 54 days doing some sampling. Almost all 101 licenses and the customs officers were aware of our way on board.

“They did all the normal checks to clear the vessel. It was on our waters and after it left our waters for sampling and mapping exercises.

“The company has one mining license, 3 explorations licenses and a further mining license under application,” Mr. Garry added

Mesulam says the Government's allowance of the deep sea mining project to get underway in PNG is contradicting the Moratorium that was jointly endorsed by Pacific leaders and countries at the Melanesian Spearhead Group or MSG meeting, banning sea bed mining.

It was announced deep sea mining would commence last year.

Nautilus Solwara 1 project was granted a permit in 2011 with an investment of K300 million by the then government but it never got off the ground due to funding shortfalls and the company being liquidated in 2019.

Deep sea mining finance limited then acquired 100 percents shares in Nautilus making it a subsidiary.