Northern Governor Gary Juffa has condemned the decision by the Government to invest in the Solwara 1 project.
He said now that the developer, Nautilus Minerals, is in danger of going bankrupt, the Government will be losing millions of taxpayers’ money.
The vocal Governor has described the Solwara 1 project as an ‘evil project’ initiated to destroy the marine environment.
He told this newsroom in a phone interview that the Government has invested a lot of money on the project and if things go wrong, who will be blamed for the decision made to allow the project?
Governor Juffa reiterated that the decision to allow for such project is not beneficial but made based on personal greed by some leaders.
Nautilus’ aspirations to be the world's first deep sea miner sank to the bottom of the ocean on news that the project support vessel critical to the development of Nautilus’ deep sea mining project in the country has been purchased for repurposing by Indian company MDL Energy.
Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, of the Deep Sea Mining Campaign, said: “Nautilus’ Production Support Vessel (PSV) was the centre-piece of their model of operation and without the PSV it's difficult to see Nautilus ever developing its Solwara 1 project.”
Former Attorney General, Sir Arnold Amet, was one of the leaders that went against the Solwara 1 project in the country.
He said he always warned the Government publicly and privately about the financial mess they will find themselves in when this experimental company fails.
“The Government invested heavily to purchase 15 percent of Nautilus and this will now translate into 15 percent of its bankruptcy and any debts the company owes which our nation cannot afford this.
“The Government should now terminate the contract with Nautilus and cancel all permits for the Solwara 1 operation.”
(Northern Governor Gary Juffa filepic)