Nautilus’ response blankets real intentions

I REFER to the letter ‘No sea mining yet’ (The National, July 9), which objected to another letter ‘'Islanders demand stop to mining ops’.
The voice of more than 200 Bagabag islanders must be heard by Nautilus and its agents, and the provincial and national governments.
The people of Bagabag Island have expressed their objections to seabed mining.
The argument by Mel Togolo, PNG country manager for Nautilus, that there is ‘no sea mining yet’ can blanket the real intentions of seabed exploration.
No mining giant will waste money to do seabed exploration and then leave its task incomplete without the full knowledge of regaining the capital exploration expenditure in PNG.
We also know that the capital intensive exercise done by Nautilus to do seabed mining exploration will eventually lead to a commercial licence if Nautilus decides to move into this phase of development.
If it does, that will grant Nautilus or its agents the licence to go into commercial production.
When that happens, Nautilus will regain the exploration expenditure for many years.

Wenceslaus Magun
Indigenous tribesman
 

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