Dept to open accounts for LNG clans in Central

PNG LNG landowner beneficiaries in Central will soon have bank accounts opened for royalties and equities from the project to be kept.
Acting secretary for Department of Petroleum and Energy David Manau said the programme to open accounts would be launched next week.
Manau said the Government wanted to see areas such as Central which had no pending disputes receive their benefits.
It was reported earlier that K270 million in royalties and development levies for the landowners was parked at the Central Bank awaiting proper identification process.
Petroleum and Energy Minister Nixon Duban earlier said once all landowner identification was completed, benefits under the licensed-based benefit sharing agreement for landowners in these areas especially the royalty and equity would be paid out.
Manau said: “The other areas that are not under alternative dispute ADR or have no dispute, we are proceeding with the work to ensure their accounts are open and ready for them to receive their royalties and equity. Central is among provinces which do not have landowner issues.”
He said officials from the Mineral Resources Development Company, BSP and the department would start with four villages impacted by the PNG LNG project – Porebada, Boera, Papa and Lealea.