Hides landowners

ExxonMobil returns staff

This follows the removal of barricades to and from the site by Hides landowners over a K35 million commitment not being met by the Government.

Meanwhile, the Angore pipeline tie-in project will remain suspended until ExxonMobil is confident operations can resume normally.

A spokesperson said: “While we believe sufficient improvement has been made in the Hides and Komo areas, work on the Angore pipeline tie-in project will remain suspended until we are confident our operations can be safely and securely resumed in that area.

Hides PDL 7 board sworn in

Furthermore, the Board has elected a chairman as well.

This has been signalled as a momentous occasion for the people of PDL 7 with the Board stating that this will bring the government more closely to the people.

The event was held in Port Moresby last night.

Landowners representing the 10 blocks of PDL 7 were finally sworn in yesterday in what has been described as ‘long time coming’.

Witnessed by the Department of Inter-Government Relations, judicial services and fellow clansmen, the Hides PDL 7 SPA Board then elected its first chairman, Andy Hamaga.

Govt committed to paying Hides LOs

Acting Prime Minister Charles Abel however says various court cases have stopped the Government from doing so.

Abel said it’s a very complex issue and would like some of the court issues settled quickly so that the money is released.

He said numerous court issues have stalled clan vetting, which once completed, will finally see all landowners being paid their royalties.

“We’re committed to pay that money. We were ready to pay.  It’s the issues amongst the landowners,” he said.

Hides wellheads closed off

A reliable source in Hides informed Loop PNG that PDL 1 landowners, numbering between 100 and 200, have cut down trees and are using the logs to block off access to wellheads A to G.

It is understood the landowners want the Government to pay their portion of K35 million which was committed to them last year.

It is also understood the landowners do not want the clan vetting to go ahead until the money is paid.

Our source has confirmed that security personnel are in the area, monitoring the situation.

LOs want PM to deliver on promise

During the 2017 National Election campaign trail, O’Neill announced in Tari that the Government will transfer the 25 percent of Kroton shares (4.2 percent), worth K3.5 billion, to landowners from Hela, Southern Highlands, Western, Gulf and Central provinces.

At the time, O’Neill said this was in line with the spirit of transferring 17.4 percent of Bougainville Copper Limited shares to the people of Bougainville and the 33 percent ownership of Ok Tedi to the Western Province mine affected landowners.

Discussion with Hides landowners hit a droop

The discussion will be on how best the process of accessing their royalties and the 2 per cent free carry equity can be fast tracked.

This is after negotiations yesterday reached a dead end with landowners taking a concrete stand on their demands that their outstanding LBBSA and UBBSA commitments be paid as well.

After a whole day of discussions which turned rowdy at some stage, Minister for Petroleum and Energy Nixon Duban and Finance Minister James Marape put forward the option of meeting again with the landowners after parliament sitting next week.