The Solwara 1 Seabed Mining Project in the Bismarck Sea of Papua New Guinea

The report ‘The Solwara 1 Seabed Mining Project in the Bismarck Sea of Papua New Guinea’, by Dr Helen Rosenbaum from the Deep Sea Mining Campaign, was presented as a Resource Document at the the PNG National Consultation on Seabed Mining in Port Moresby, Nov 10-13, 2025.

The proposed Solwara 1 (Niu Solwara) deep sea mining project in Papua New Guinea’s Bismarck Sea poses serious environmental, social, and economic risks.

This report highlight how the project would destroy rare hydrothermal vent ecosystems and generate toxic sediment plumes that could contaminate marine food webs relied on by coastal and island communities.

Scientific uncertainty remains high, yet safeguards are weak. The original operator collapsed, leaving PNG with significant public debt, while the government’s ongoing equity stake raises conflicts of interest. A secretive 2024 mining trial without community consent highlights governance failures. Deep sea mining is advancing without adequate science, transparency, or respect for customary rights.