Community pleased to partner with RH Mobil

THE opening of the RH Mobil Station in Lae, Morobe, signifies the different partnerships that the people of Butibum would like to see for the betterment of Lae and their six villages, Chairman of Butibum Progress Ltd Paul Gware says.
Speaking during the opening of the RH Mobil (Mobil Oil Niugini Ltd) Speedy Service station at Snack Bar along Markham Road, Lae, Gware said partnerships could go a long way.
“The first land deal was signed in 1989, at that time the management of Butibum Progress Association with Mobil identified the site and created a partnership recognising Butibum people as traditional landowners,” he said.
“The idea was to do something that would benefit the people in the future, because it would create income generation for the villages.
“The first service station was opened in 1991.”
Gware, who is also the interim chairman of the Butibum Progress Association, said the service station land was owned by the association which represents six clans of Butibum – Gwatu, Apo, Busulum, Tumata, Wapiguhu and Agactu.
“In the partnership, Mobil is leasing the land from the association and pays monthly rentals, while the operator of the service station is RH Trading,” he said.
“To get to this stage (opening), we had to negotiate well. The service station was sitting idle for nearly three years but we are thankful for this partnership.”