Effective dialogue vital with partners

By DAVID WAPAR
EFFECTIVE communication is vital for consultation with landowners and other development partners, a mining expert from the US Department of Interior says.
Gary Torres, mana­ger of the Farmington, New Mexico field office, made the comment last Friday at the close of a three-day workshop hosted by the US Embassy at a hotel in Port
Moresby.The workshop called,  “Environmental information analysis and compliance in oil and gas exploration and development in Papua New Guinea” featured officials from government agencies and their American counterparts who discussed how to evaluate and make informed decisions on environmental issues, conduct consultations with resource owners, and assess surface protection measures in on-shore oil and gas development.Torres identified that lack of effective communication hindered the implementation of developments targeting landowners.
“These agencies are consistent in their decision-making,” he said.
“However, there is a lack of communication between the developer and the beneficiaries,” he said.
“Good communication is important as it creates a good atmosphere to attract businesses.
“They (landowners) clearly are the ones to be impacted.”
Torres said developers and other stakeholders were obliged to ensure there was interaction between all parties, and involving every member of the public. and disclose impacts of what they were doing.
The former US mine and petroleum engineer challenged participants to use what they had gathered to make changes in their respective agencies.“Solutions are right in the room. Nobody from the parliament will come and help. I would encourage each of you to do your bit,” Torres said.