Kutubu villages seeking K20m compo from OSL

MORE than 60 Kutubu communities living along the Yakerabo and Gese creeks are demanding K20 million from Oil Search Ltd for allegedly contaminating the water.
Oil Search has, however, denied its drilling operations in Kutubu 2XS have contaminated the water.
It said there was no evidence to support the landowners’ claim and that it was co-operating with the Department of Environment and Conservation’s investigators.
Jacksie Maduane, a spokesperson for the landowners, urged the Department of Petroleum and Energy to quickly respond to their demand for a meeting with all relevant authorities.
He said a consultant’s second impact environment assessment report would support their claims.
The first report was circulated to the authorities recently.
Oil Search confirmed yesterday that it had received the first report.
Its environment manager Ben Yaru said its data showed that the water quality was not contaminated and met PNG, Australia and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards and was not contaminated.
A source from DPE confirmed that they would use their own criteria to assess the report.
Another representative of the landowners, Mira Mora, said his tests showed evidence of drilling fluids and chemicals in the water.
“We are ready to present our final data to relevant authorities and parties concerned after our meeting with the secretary for Petroleum and Energy,” he said.