Discussions on LNG project continuing

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister James Marape says discussions are continuing over the Papua LNG Project between the developer and the Government.
He said the Government was trying to establish whether the agreement signed with developer Total was consistent with the law.
“Conversation are still going on, our Government, since we’ve come on board, one of the issues we are trying to establish and ascertain exactly is whether the agreement signed was congruent to the laws of the land,” the prime minster said.
“I’m the last one to break the laws of my land. I expect every corporate citizen and every public servant and the public to comply with the laws.
“We’ve taken time, we respect that this is serious investment and our nation is not in the business of chasing away investors.
“But at the same context we must also respect the laws we have in our country.”
Marape said Petroleum Minister Kerenga Kua based on cabinet decisions had gone for a meeting in Singapore.
“Minister Kua based on the decisions we reached, has taken the decision to Singapore for the meeting.
“He has met the developers, he has come back and is yet to brief the cabinet.
“Total’s senior executives are coming back again to meet us and we will have those conversations.”
Marape said it was his business to ensure that the country’s entitlements were secured by law.
“My business is to ensure that PNG’s entitlement by law in as far as benefit is concerned is secured.
“Those reconciliations will go on and while I know it’s quite stressful to our international business partners, I’m not in a place to be forced into making hasty decisions.
“The decisions I make today has consequential effect for the eight million people if not now then into the future.