Naru on alert

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 18th September, 2012

By GABRIEL LAHOC
MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru says Canadian company Nautilus Mineral is interested in waters off his province.
“I am studying that issue and monitoring it very closely,” Naru said.
“I understand that the same company has an exploration licence touching on our waters on the Finschhafen-Siassi seabed and so when it comes to that point we will deal with it accordingly in terms of how we see this issue progressing,” Naru said.
Naru told reporters after he was sworn-in as head of the provincial government in Lae that Nautilus was interested in the waters off his province, which shared a maritime border with Madang, West New Britain and Northern.
Naru, who was accompanied by Northern Governor Gary Juffa during his swearing-in joins Juffa and New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan as those who have spoken publicly against the Solwara 1 project.
“My position is that in terms of the environmental impact and the damage that it will cause to the marine life, the ecosystem and the seabed generally, we have to have overwhelming scientific evidence beyond doubt that the project is safe before it gets off the ground,” Naru said.
His view goes against the stance of the Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, which argued that resource projects should not be stalled after government development approvals were granted as these would raise concerns in international investment communities.
“And I don’t care what other people say but our marine environment and damage to the ecosystem that this project will cause plus the livelihood of the people affected in those areas is of paramount importance.
“And if it is going to have any detrimental environmental, social or economical impact on the lives of our people then obviously you know my position,” he said.
It has been reported that Nautilus submitted its environmental impact statement and mining lease application in September 2008 as well as consultations with the relevant stakeholders before a ministerial approval was given for issue of the environmental permit in January, 2009.