Oil Palm

Following the welcome, 10,000 hectares of their grassland were offered to the government for significant oil palm development.

“All they (the Kiniambo people) need now is for the Marape-Rosso Government to come good and support them to have the land surveyed, ILGs registered, and a 99-year State Lease title given to their landowner company. This will allow them to negotiate with the state and other investor partners to develop a 10, 000-hectare oil palm estate and be able to provide enough land to allow the company to build an oil palm mill in Kiniambo,” said Minister Maru.

Northern Governor Gary Juffa who had been at the forefront of pushing the government for the shares of the dividend, was a happy man yesterday when he officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony in Popondetta.

Governor Juffa was persistent in securing K40 million through the shares from the Oil Palm dividend, part of which would be used for the project.

The first of three regional consultations started on Friday 25^th August, 2023 at the Liamo Reef Resort in Kimbe, West New Britain Province. This week consultations continue to be held in Lae today (Monday 28^th August) for the Momase region, and on Thursday 28^th August will be a session for the Southern region in Port Moresby.

The Department of Agriculture and Oil Palm Industries Corporation were directed as a matter of urgency by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture to review the current Oil Palm Industry Corporation Act 1992.

Minister for Oil Palm, Francis Maneke stated this yesterday during the swearing-in ceremony of the members of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation.

Several plans were mentioned including the K30 million for the 2023 Work-Program and Implementation Plan for Oil Palm, which is now before NEC to endorse its draw down and implementation.

He said the Legislation review and regulatory frames are also a priority to be completed with sound policies to achieve National Governments direction to grow industry.

This has expanded from West New Britain to New Ireland, Oro and Milne Bay provinces and now extends into Madang, Morobe, West Sepik, East Sepik and East New Britain.

The Farmers and Settlers Association in a circular stated that in a recent statistics for  oil palm since the enactment of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation Act, 1992 has shown a steady increase in production and exports of crude palm oil.

This follows a meeting at Mampin village in Umi-Atzera LLG on Sunday February 13, 2022 between OPIC General-Secretary, Kepson Pupita, Morobe Provincial Administrator Bart Ipambonj and landowner leaders.

It is also in line with the vision of the Marape-led Government to economically empower people in rural areas of the country.

The Markham villagers have been waiting for more than 10 years for smallholder oil palm to take off in the valley, following the launching by former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, but to no avail.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, John Simon told hundreds of oil palm block holders at Sarakolok in Hoskins, West New Britain Province, when opening the K1 million Sarakolok Bridge yesterday, 22^nd of January.

The bridge was funded jointly by the West New Britain Provincial Government and OPIC.

The Agriculture and Livestock Minister also told the block holders that:

The firm has been serving Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands since 1967, contributing over K1.5 billion to the national purse.

Speaking during the ceremony, NBPOL general manager Harry Brock pointed out that Hoskins Airport, and specifically Air Niugini, has played an immense role in the company’s history. Not only has it made it possible for staff to travel but also by transporting the world renowned ‘dami seeds’ to other parts of the country and the world, setting a record quantity of 195 million seeds exited via Hoskins since 1975.

The funding was presented today by PNG’s national oil and gas company Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL).

The Kumul Petroleum Academy initiative is funded by the KPHL’s participation in South Pacific Employment Institution (SPEI).

A total of 32 trainees will have an opportunity to be trained at the centre situated at the world class state of the art training facility built at a cost of K53m at Idubada near Port Moresby.