A group of landowners from Northwest Moran project area have threatened to boycott the proposed oil and gas development forum scheduled for tomorrow.
The Pai Hoya Resource Owners Association instead has called on Governor Anderson Agiru, Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma and Oil Search to come out and tell the people about what was going on.
Chairman of Northwest Moran landowners Elvis Alungi said in a statement last Friday that their simple request for the National Government and the developer (Oil Search) was to do a proper social mapping and land demarcation for them to be recognised as legitimate landowners to benefit from royalties and other project funding.
Mr Alungi said this was provided for under section 47 of the Oil and Gas Act.
He said their request was made two years ago but there was no response from authorities concerned.
He said unless this was done, the landowners would not attend any future development forum on the project.
Governor Agiru yesterday responded that oil must flow and urged all landowners to attend the development forum.
“Elvis Alungi must come and I have asked the Minister for Petroleum to invite them to attend the forum,” he said.
Mr Agiru said the benefits for Southern Highlands and all landowners were guaranteed under the Organic Law on provincial and local level government.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Pai Parapia Resources Owners Association Edward Alina had rejected the threat by Alungi and his group.
Mr Alina said Mr Alungi’s clan lived about 15km outside of the PDL6 area in Moran, and do not own any oil wells.
“The development forum will go ahead as planned in Alotau,” Mr Alina said yesterday.
His group was officially recognised by the Government and developer Oil Search. The development forum is scheduled to take place in Alotau tomorrow.