Different factions getting together, sign agreement

 THE different factions the benefit sharing agreement forum in Kiunga, Western, have come together and hope to sign by today.

Secretary for Petroleum and Energy Rendle Rimua said the different landowner groups, the provincial government and local level governments had united and were going through the development agreement.

Rimua  said: “The state team has been trying to address issues that landowners have been raising and landowners are beginning to understand the position of the state team and therefore agreement will be signed, “hopefully’ by Friday (today).”

Rimua, who is leading the state team, said the provincial and LLG teams met by the team until early hours of Wednesday and all day yesterday.

He said all groups accepted the director’s proposal on benefits guided and provided under legislation but were of different opinions on the development grants.

“However, after much explanation and putting all facts before them, they have come to realise that there was nothing much the state team could do and ‘we are finalising the agreement,” Rimua said.

The Forum for the Stanley gas condensate project is likely to end today with the signing of the K800 million project.