Nautilus Minerals’s seafloor production tools (SPTs) have arrived in Papua New Guinea to start submerged trials.
Mike Johnston , Nautilus’ CEO said: “We are delighted to be undertaking submerged trials in PNG. The trials will result in money and investment going into the PNG economy, and the employment of Papua New Guineans in “state of the art” technology which are some of the key benefits of seafloor production.
“The trials also allow us to work closely with our partner Petromin, government officers from the various government agencies, as well as representatives from Provincial Governments of New Ireland and East New Britain.”
The submerged trials will happen in an existing facility on Motukea Island, near Port Moresby in PNG, Nautilus noted.
The SPTs were designed and assembled in Newcastle upon Tyne by SMD, and the company ultimately plans to use the SPTs to cut and extract high grade copper and gold from the seafloor at the Solwara 1 joint venture’s project site in the Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea.