Landowner representatives in Port Moresby are calling on the Government not to take lightly the current situation at the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant in Hela Province.
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.
At the forefront is the K35 million which was committed to Hides PDL 1 and 7 landowners last year by the former Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Nixon Duban.
Treasury says that money is held in Trust due to a court proceeding preventing payment. However, landowners claim that the government had issued an NEC directive to prevent any court case preventing the payment and the fast tracking of clan vetting.
They say they have no issues in Hela and want the clan vetting done immediately so that they can also receive their benefits. However, a case (OS 196/2015) preventing the clan vetting stalls this process.
“We appeal to the judiciary department, headed by the state solicitor, to look into this matter seriously and help us and set the OS 196/2015 order aside in order for the state team to conduct clan vetting ASAP and we will receive our funds,” said Peter Potabe, Hides PDL 1 representative.
Andy Hamaga, Hides PDL 7 representative, added: “Because of the delay in releasing this money and carrying out the MOU we signed on the 18th of August last year, the people have shown their frustration.”
They said the frustration of the landowners has reached boiling point and they want the Government to immediately intervene or else the entire project will be shut down.
“We are forced to do what we are doing. Who’s forcing us? The National Government is forcing us by giving a deaf ear to us.
“Our own leaders from Hela Provincial Government are not airing this on the floor of Parliament.”
Meanwhile, Hides Hiwa Block and PDL 1 Landowner Association chairman, Makape Katia, said in a statement that disruptions will eventually lead to closure if the Government does not address several demands, which include clan vetting and the payment of their share of the K35 million.