Photo credit: Deep Sea Mining Finance Ltd
The Government of Papua New Guinea plans to re-open discussions with Deep Sea Mining Finance Ltd (DSMF) regarding the potential for mining minerals in the Bismarck Sea off the west coast of Namatanai, New Ireland. DSMF had previously acquired Nautilus Minerals, which had shown interest in deep sea mining in the mid-2000s through the Solwara 1 project. DSMF is a privately owned group with the aim of becoming the world's first company to mine the sea floor of massive sulphide deposits, starting with its high-grade copper-gold Solwara 1 project.
Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala said, "We expect discussions again with the company." Governor Sir Julius Chan also met with a team from DSMF in the province this week. The team was led by its CEO Chris Jordinson, including technical service manager Glen Jones, offshore exploration project manager Anthony Manocchio, and Nautilus Minerals country manager Paul Lahari.
Jordinson indicated that the company had met with Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala and the Mineral Resources Authority the previous week in Port Moresby. The dialogue between the company and the New Ireland government is crucial as they are responsible for the local impacted communities of the proposed Solwara 1 project off West Coast New Ireland. The NIPG has suggested that DSMF conduct proper awareness with the locals on the proposed project, including engaging an independent scientist to evaluate possible environmental impacts and give confidence to the local people that the project will not affect their livelihood.
In the words of the Governor, "The DSMF team was here to touch base and explain what they intend to do and how they will go about it. We suggested to them that they conduct proper awareness with the locals, engage an independent scientist to evaluate possible environmental impacts and give confidence to the local people that the project will not in any way affect their livelihood."
