Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed his government’s opposition to deep-sea mining, citing the fragility of the nation’s marine ecosystems and a lack of scientific understanding about environmental risks. Speaking at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in France, Marape underscored his commitment to upholding PNG’s moratoriums on seabed mining, first enacted in 2019 and reaffirmed in 2023.
Despite this national stance, authorities in New Ireland province are moving to revive the controversial Solwara 1 deep-sea mining project. Governor Walter Schnaubelt has publicly declared support for the project and is working with foreign-backed company NIU Solwara—formerly Nautilus Minerals Niugini, the bankrupt firm originally granted the license—to restart operations. Meetings between NIU Solwara, provincial officials, and PNG’s national representatives have raised concerns about internal contradictions within PNG’s governance.
Trial mining was carried out in mid-2024 without the knowledge or consent of nearby coastal communities, who have long opposed the project due to concerns over fisheries, cultural heritage, and marine biodiversity. Internal documents suggest that national officials may have been aware of these operations well in advance, despite their public denials.
Community leaders, including Godfrey Abage of Kono village, have called for transparency and formal consultations. To date, their requests for a public forum remain unanswered. Meanwhile, a recent Supreme Court ruling requires the government to release key documents, including environmental permits and licenses.
The controversy over Solwara 1 comes as PNG prepares to join the newly announced Melanesian Ocean Reserve, the world’s first Indigenous-led international marine protected area. The growing divide between national policy and provincial actions reflects ongoing tensions over the future of deep-sea mining in one of the Pacific’s most ecologically significant regions.
