NAUTILUS Minerals country manager Mel Togolo says the seabed miner only has understandings with the East New Britain and the New Ireland provincial governments.

Source: The National

He said the Canadian seabed miner signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each of these provinces.

He was responding to remarks made by locals from New Ireland stating they wanted to be a party in the memorandum of agreement (MOA).

Togolo said there was never a MOA signed between Nautilus and any other parties.

“Nautilus does not have an MOA with any of the governments. A MOA is a requirement of the legislation governing mining in PNG and establishes the framework for the project from an economic, social, employment and commercial standpoint.

He said an MOA was an agreement between the national and relevant provincial government(s) and it defined how benefits from the project, including royalties received by state, would be distributed.

“The purpose of the MOU in New Ireland and East New Britain is to provide a framework for on-going cooperation between the East New Britain and New Ireland provincial governments and Nautilus Minerals to achieve mutually beneficial outputs.

“It is an understanding to strengthen dialogue between the two parties through establishment of East New Britain-Nautilus Minerals working group and New Ireland-Nautilus Minerals working group.

“The groups will act as the main point of contact between the East New Britain and the New Ireland provincial government and Nautilus Minerals in facilitating meetings, sharing information and consulting with communities.

He said the MOU’s do not usurp the spirit and intention of MOA between the national government and the New Ireland and East New Britain provincial governments.