Alliance of Solwara Warriors

Whilst claiming this as a victory in their decade-long campaign to stop the Nautilus Solwara 1 Project in the Bismarck Sea, local communities and civil society in Papua New Guinea are taking heed that the fight is not over until all Nautilus licences are cancelled.

“This is very welcome news!” stated Jonathan Mesulam, Alliance of Solwara Warriors whose village on the west coast of New Ireland Province is situated only 25km from the Solwara 1 project.

During World Ocean Day last month, the Alliance of Solwara Warriors reiterated that the development of new ocean industries, such as deep seabed mining, is a shared concern and responsibility.

“It will be very interesting to see which side they support. Are they going to be concerned about our culture, customs and traditions?

“Their leadership as custodians of our natural resources is very important,” said the Alliance in a statement.  

“Can they see beyond their noses and expose their true colour of leadership or are they politically bestowed the titles of chief?

In the May 16^th article, Walter Schnaubelt was reported to have said though too much remained unknown about the environmental impacts of seabed mining, ‘that doesn't mean that we just shut the door’.

Schnaubelt further said he was keeping an open mind on potential seabed mining, and he would maintain a neutral stand until adequate information on the benefits of the Solwara 1 project are made available to him.

The call has been made by the Alliance of Solwara Warriors following the May 4^th announcement of the diversified miner in the Financial Times.

In a statement the Alliance of Solwara Warriors said the Government should “take heed of Anglo-American’s action as a professional example and withdraw its 15 percent share while there is still some value (K0.51 May 10^th 2018)”.

“This is a clear indication of loss in investor confidence in the Solwara 1 Project and experimental seabed mining in PNG.

The Alliance of Solwara Warriors yesterday submitted their demurral on Exploration License 1196 to the MRA.

Speaking to this newsroom, Namatanai representative, Jonathan Mesulam, said they have again and will continue to oppose Nautilus Mineral Inc’s seabed mining project in New Ireland.

EL 1196 is situated on traditional fishing and ceremonial waters of West Coast Namatanai in New Ireland Province and Duke of York Islands in East New Britain Province.

In a statement, the Alliance of Solwara Warriors said: “As maritime communities whose wellbeing and quality of life depend on the health of the sea, we were not consulted before licenses and leases were awarded by the National Government for seabed mining project in the country.

They noted the overwhelming support from the national, regional and international organisations, including from prominent leaders.

Coastal communities across the Bismarck Sea under the umbrella of the Alliance of Solwara Warriors claim that Nautilus and the PNG Government do not have their consent to go ahead with experimental seabed mining in the Bismarck Sea.

"Who are these leaders from New Ireland Province that Nautilus has handpicked?" said Jonathan Mesulam of the Alliance of Solwara Warriors.

“I am from the West Coast of New Ireland Province and I hear my people's concerns. Landowners on the west coast of New Ireland Province live only 25km from the Solwara 1 seabed mining site.