PNG LNG landowners

Chairman Sir Mekere Morauta says PNGSDP is happy to participate as the PNG-based member of a consortium of overseas financiers to provide a facility totaling K725 million ($US 230 million). This is to allow the landowners pay the State their 4.27 percent interest that was agreed under the Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement (UBSA), reached in 2009 between the Somare Government and the landowners.

Failure to do so will result in them (landowners) shutting down the LNG plant at the Hides in Tari, Hela Province.

The landowners from the PNG LNG beneficiary groups came together in the last two days and signed a petition to government.

They presented the petition to Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion who accepted on behalf of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill today.

The landowners demanded that their outstanding payments be paid including their 4.27% equity.