Group: Pipeline poses threat

 A GROUP of landowners in Hela and Southern Highlands claim the PNG LNG gas pipeline poses a threat to the environment and the people.

PDL Seven landowner association chairman Chris Payabe said by phone from Hides that the landowners were not happy with  developer ExxonMobil and Sperberg, the company contracted to lay the pipes from Hides to Portion 125 in Central, over the manner in which the pipes were laid.

No comments could be obtained from the two companies.

Payabe said the pipes were exposed and never laid at a depth of six to eight metres so that the risk of leakage was minimised.

“We are not happy with the way the pipes are laid,” he said.

“It seems that they were laying the pipes half a metre deep. We want the pipes to be buried deeper and not exposed to the environment, the weather and humans as it would be risky when there is a landslide or earthquake.”

He said companies should consider the dangers and the possible risk when deciding how deep the pipes were laid.

He wants the company to explain.