Source: Radio New Zealand

A campaign group says the Papua New Guinea government is going ahead with an experimental new seabed mine without the consent of the people.

The Canadian company, Nautilus Minerals, is set to go ahead with its Solwara One project off New Ireland - which will be the world's first extraction of minerals from the seabed.

PNG's mining minister, Byron Chan, says his constituents have been well consulted.

But a spokesperson of the Deep Sea Mining Campaign, Natalie Lowery, says although locals have been consulted they haven't granted their consent.

"The community voice in Papua New Guinea, against what they're calling 'experimental seabed mining' is massive. It's very disappointing that the Papua New Guinean government still hasn't responded to a petition where over 25,000 Papua New Guineans petitioned to say they didn't want Nautilus to go ahead with the Solwara mine"

Natalie Lowery says the project could damage local ecosystems.