Hides

Hides situation tense but quiet

A reliable source has confirmed that that despite the situation being tense, the land owners are cooperating well with the security forces.

Around 11am this morning, a good number of these land owners were escorted to the Juni area, about 20 minutes’ drive from site.

The land owners were escorted off from the site because they had come up with a grace period for a response to be given for their demand.

However a small number of land owners are still at the site – but police say the situation now is calm.

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Govt urged not to take Hides situation lightly

They said if the Government does not deliver on its commitments made in previous years, it may lead to the eventual closure of the PNG LNG Project.

This follows recent tension in Hides, Angore and Komo, forcing ExxonMobil to withdraw staff from the conditioning plant.

In a media conference yesterday, Hides and Angore landowner representatives said much of the discontent rose from the same issues which were never addressed.

ExxonMobil suspends non-essential work

This follows tension in Hides, Angore and Komo in Hela Province over outstanding landowner issues not met by the Government.

ExxonMobil states that the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant continues to operate with essential staff on ground while the Hela situation continues to be monitored.

The safety and security of our employees, contractors and the local community is a top priority,” says a spokesperson.

“Due to recent community tension in the Highlands (Hides, Angore, Komo), ExxonMobil PNG has suspended non-essential work.

VIDEO: Hides Security update

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill told this newsroom that the number of security forces will increase in the next few days.

His response came after Shadow Minister for Democratic Institutions and the Rule of Law Kerenga Kua released a statement claiming that O'Neill must be blamed for the lawlessness behavior happening in Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces.

Kua claimed that regular incidents of violence and lawlessness are taking place in these two provinces, without the lack of government supervised interventions.

​PNG LNG LOs issue ultimatum

Landowner representatives from Angore, Juha and Hides gas fields held a joint media conference yesterday, calling on the Government to seriously address the nonpayment of landowners’ equities.

The LOs made their intentions known following media reports that landowners from the LNG Plant Site within Papa/Lealea were to receive their payments after successfully meeting all requirements as per the Oil and Gas Act.

The landowners aired their concern over the constant delay and lack of government pro-activeness in addressing outstanding issues.

​EMPNG throws support behind cancer foundation

ExxonMobil PNG, on behalf of PNG LNG, has contributed K165,000 towards PNG Cancer Foundation’s Healthy Teens School Program (HTSP). This brings ExxonMobil PNG’s support to K269,700 for PNGCF awareness programs since 2014.

The partnership will see the program rolled out to schools in Papa Lealea, Hanuabada, Baruni, Boera, Tatana, Porebada, Port Moresby, Hides and Moro. 

Hides IDG payments to Landowners set for tomorrow

The payment was initially scheduled for Friday last week but did not eventuate because a gazetted public holiday (Repentance Day) also fell on that day.

Petroleum and Energy Minister Nixon Duban said all parties agreed to reschedule this event to tomorrow at Hides in Hela Province.

The event will see the payment of K35 million to Hides PDL 1 and 7 areas. K20 million from this money will be paid to PDL 1 and K15m to PDL 7.