A Singaporean businessman is intrigued at the interest in his company's plans for sandmining from beaches in Papua New Guinea's Madang province.
Marcus Ong said the feasibility of Niugini Sands Ltd's concept is yet to be proven.
But it has attracted opposition from landowners and environmental groups.
Ong, who is a director of the company, said they were still waiting for the Mineral Resources Authority to issue an exploration licence.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
He said if they do go ahead they will work with the communities to ensure damaged areas are rehabilitated.
"All kinds of mining are harmful, whether it's sandmining or gold mining or even logging - they are all harmful to the environment. So it is how we manage that, and we rehabilitate the land after mining has ceased. So a lot of other mining companies have exploited the land, they have taken what they need and then just let it be as it is. For us we see ourselves as a responsible company," Ong said.
He said his company, PowerPlus, had been providing heavy machinery to PNG for decades and the Niugini Sands venture was very much a sideline.
Ong said the preliminary information they have on the Madang black sands, is that they are largely composed of dead corals, so would only be useful for land reclamation.
The company posted a statement to its Facebook page:
"It is easy for one to put down and criticise a project simply because it brings about a change which is undesirable in their personal view. We should not always look to oppose the change but rather embrace it.
"We believe that it is everyone's desire for progress and improvement and that is exactly what our project can do in a small way."
Local opponents of the sandmining plans have former chief justice Sir Arnold Amet as their legal advocate.
