The PNG Government has not, to date, conducted any independent study into the impacts of Experimental Seabed Mining (ESM) in PNG waters. This is despite a petition of 24,000 signatures, coordinated by ACT NOW! and partners, presented to Minister Chan in October 2012, requesting a Moratorium and a government-sponsored study into the impacts of (ESM). If that study has been undertaken, the Minister needs to disclose the conclusions of that study. In the absence of such a study, the Minister has no basis make statements to the effect that "all will be ok".

Via Radio New Zealand, Posted at 08:05 on 02 September, 2013

Papua New Guinea’s Mining Minister Byron Chan says damage from a controversial seabed mining project is expected to be contained naturally.

Public opposition to the Nautilus Minerals-led Solwara One project in PNG’s Bismarck Sea remains strong, based largely on the environmental uncertainties of the country hosting what would be world’s first major deep sea mining operation.

Nautilus says it has conducted intensive research to satisfy all environmental requirements of the PNG Government.

Byron Chan says no mining activity is free of environmental damage but that with Solwara, little upheaval of the seabed is expected.

“...There’s daily eruptions happening down at the seafloor and these are contained naturally because of the density of the water at that level so there are natural environmental eruptions happening at the seabed where Nautilus is expected to mine, and it’s contained naturally...”