ENB commits K2mil to purchase land for sewerage treatment plant

National

THE East New Britain government has committed another K2 million for the purchase of the land in Ulaveo in Kokopo where a sewerage treatment plant is to be situated.
The K2 million was presented to the WR Carpenters Group of Companies and the Coconut Product Ltd recently.
The negotiated price for the land was K5 million which was agreed on between the provincial government and owner WR Carpenters.
East New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga said under the physical planning requirements, a city needed to have a sewerage treatment site and it had been the provincial government’s obligation to complete the K5 million.
“It is the provincial government’s obligation to complete the sewerage to cater for the development of Kokopo city and we are thankful that the WR Carpenters have become partners with the provincial government so we can both continue to develop the place for the good of the province,” he said.
Konga said his government had now paid a total of K3 million with K2 million outstanding.
He said K500,000 had been paid in 2019 and 2020 while the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic had impacted their ability to make payment last year.
“The K2 million presented today will be for this year and last year,” he said.
WR Carpenters legal officer Sheila Sukwianomb said since the negotiation in 2018, the provincial administration and its division of lands had been supportive in ensuring payments had been made regularly. She said the company was pleased that the provincial government had made a significant payment.