Prime Minister (PM) James Marape, upon arriving back in country from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Vanuatu, divulged information on some of the resolutions passed during the sub- regional group meeting, including on the matter of environmental impacts. PM Marape said deep sea mining was one of topics that was discussed under the environmental impacts in the pacific and the Melanesian group of countries. Marape said in this area, the leaders of the MSG agreed to not entertain any deep-sea mining until further proof is presented that there will be no environmental impacts to the marine environment and with it, the life it supports. “In the event where there is to be deep sea mining, it must be consistent with safe environment practices,” said PM Marape. “In the meantime, we issued a moratorium, including for PNG waters that there will be no deep-sea mining until further evidence suggests otherwise.” Marape said the marine life must be protected for the future generation to enjoy and Papua New Guinea (PNG) as part of the greater Melanesia, supports this stance. He said with this resolution, deep sea mining is now also frozen in PNG waters in consistent with other pacific nations’ standings in this area. Meanwhile, this is welcoming news for coastal communities in PNG where the talk of deep-sea mining has popped up again. This would mean any proposed mining activities offshore will not take place for the time being.