New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL)

This funding is part of the National Oil Palm Intervention Programme (NOPIP), a testament to the government's support for the oil palm sector.

Additionally, the minister presented a backhoe and a three-tonne truck to the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) in New Ireland and inaugurated the new OPIC office complex along with four staff houses, further strengthening the industry's infrastructure.

The NOPIP under the stewardship of OPIC is designed to address industry challenges, notably the aging of palm trees which adversely affects production. 

Governor Sasindran Muthuvel confirmed that while negotiations are underway, the existing hospital can be used as the district hospital.

“We are negotiating with NBPOL for a land near Kumbango so that hospital can be built in a new location rather than demolishing existing old one.

“And this is not final but we do our best to negotiate for the land and it’s not free. NBPOL will charge and we are willing to pay. Delaying their decision to allocate land is not in the best interest of our province.