Papua New Guinea’s controversial seabed mining and related projects not needed

By Joe WASIA

Seabed mining, of course, it’s a new term to the ears of many Papua New Guineans. In very simple definition it’s the underwater extraction of minerals resources.

This method is rarely used in the world whereas onshore mineral extractions are vastly used through out the world. Both methods have environmental and health risks which are assessed and analysed before projects are started.   

Now, a new frontier in mining is set to be opened up by the underwater extraction of resources from the seabed off the coast of Papua New Guinea, despite vehement objections from environmentalists and local activists and even some parliamentarians.

Canadian firm Canadian Natalius Minerals has been granted a 20-year licence by the PNG government last year under the Somare regime to commence the Solwara 1 project near East New Britain and New Ireland provinces, which many people refer it as the world's first commercial deep sea mining operation.


This mining process will involve levelling underwater hydrothermal "chimneys", which spew out vast amounts of minerals. Sediment is then piped to a waiting vessel, which will separate the ore from the water before pumping the remaining liquid back to the seafloor. This will be dangerous to the entire marine lives and its ecological system in the Bismarck and Coral seas.
The green light was given by the Somare government last year and it is now confirmed by O’Neil-Deon Government. However, the decisions by these successive governments do not go well with the vast majority of the people of Papua New Guinea. 
After observing the objections from different landowner groups, activists, non government organizations, some members of Parliament, and so many people around the country, I conducted a small interview with expatriates at different PNG LNG project sites.
Interview was conducted with expatriates who are already working here and new starters with different contractor companies at the project sites including the client, Exxon Mobil. It took five months to complete the interview.

The question asked was “Have you ever seen a seabed mining activities in any parts of the world or have any knowledge about the method?” The question was designed to obtain basic knowledge about the method used and how familiar it is.  

The question was asked since this controversial seabed mining was tabled which dug out attentions from many NGO’s, landowner groups, some elected members, and thousands of people around the country.

Two hundred and seventy (270) expatriates were interviewed of which 246 said they have no idea about the method and have never seen any seabed mining, whilst 24 of them were able to explain the method but could not explain it clearly how it works. They even said the method is rarely used.

That shows the proposed PNG’s seabed mining is first of its kind in almost whole world. From the result obtained from this small interview I could say the PNG government and its responsible ministries were convinced to believe and accept what was not practical in many parts of the world.

It is believed that developed countries have treated Papua New Guinea as guinea pigs to conceptualise what was not practical out there. PNG has been a playing ground for the big boys.

This seabed mining is just one of the many projects that were allowed to operate in the country without proper environmental and health risk assessment being carried out prior to the project.

Other examples are Deep Sea Trailing Disposal (DSTD) by Chinese Government owned MCC (Management) Limited and Australian owned Marengo Mining in Madang Province. These companies are planning to dump millions of tons of toxic waste into the sea off Madang from their Ramu and Yanderra mines very soon.

If you look closely how the licence are issued and permits are granted to such mining, logging, and other heavy industries in the country you could see almost all companies never follow the proper processes.

Papua New Guinea gained independence in 1975 and its 38 years old now. I think we should not be treated like robots and tools and playing grounds by the developed nations. We must reach a maturity stage by now. We have enough money to take this nation to the next level. PNG does not need any more new projects. We have so many mining, oil and gas, logging, and other heavy industries operating in our country for over decades.

The PNG’s revenue from these industries is much higher which makes up more than 70% of the total annual revenue. I think the population of this country is equally proportional to the billions of kina national annual budgets.

Papua New Guinea does not need any exploration companies or any new projects for that matter. The country direly needs transparency, accountability and good governance and proper service delivery mechanism to rise to the next level. We already have billions of kina from the existing extractive industries and from other revenues sources.  

After observing hundreds of exploration companies, mining, and oil and gas projects already here in PNG I wonder if we have a heart for the future generations of this country. Mining and petroleum resources that we see are non renewable and will definitely be exhausted one day.

Why, under successive governments, continue on issuing licences and permits to so many exploration and mineral project development companies in the country? 

The result from this small interview shows that this country was taken as a guinea pig to conceptualise what was not used in rest of the world.

Therefore, I call on the current government, under the leadership of Hon. Peter O’Neil and his deputy and members of this parliament who are supporting the seabed mining project to look carefully the whole scenario and reverse the decision from going further.

Protect the natural beauty of the Bismarck and Coral seas which had sustained thousands of people in the provinces within and around the seas.