Licence

Petroleum prospecting licences in default: Dept

Outgoing Acting Secretary of the Department, Lohial Nuau, revealed during the hand-over take-over ceremony of the Secretary role to permanent Secretary, David Manau.

The Department of Petroleum and Energy initiated the license review in 2015.

During Nuau’s tenure, 70 PPLs were reviewed for compliance purposes in respect to annual records.

40 licences were found to be in default, owing the state millions of Kina.

“Seven of the defaulters have been sent default notices with a total value in arears including penalties amounting to K1.8 million,” said Nuau.