Deep-sea mining

Then, in a process thought to span millions of years, they get coated in layers of liquidised metal, eventually becoming solid, lumpy rocks that resemble burnt potatoes.

These formations, known as polymetallic nodules, have caught the attention of international mining companies because of what they harbour: rich deposits of commercially sought-after minerals like cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese — the very metals that go into the batteries for renewable technologies like electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels.

“Helen Rosenbaum’s comment that locals in Papua New Guinea were prepared to take up arms if a seabed mining project in PNG goes ahead is not only irresponsible but can be taken as an attempt to incite violence,” says the acting executive officer to Commissioner of Police, Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas.

Ms Rosenbaum, the Deep Sea Mining Campaign coordinator, was referring to Canadian company Nautilus Minerals, which was given an Environmental Permit by the PNG government in 2009 to develop the Solwara 1 Project.