Hela landowners begin election of representatives

PNG LNG project landowners from Petroleum Development Licence No.7 (PDL7) area in Hela will now begin an election process to elect director representatives to the board of their trust company, Gas Resources Hides 4 Ltd.
According to the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC), this process follows on from the completion of a bank account opening programme conducted by MRDC earlier this year which saw 279 clan accounts opened.
The PDL7 area hosts the PNG LNG project gas conditioning plant in Hides, Hela.
The election programme was initially scheduled to take place in late February but was postponed to join the rest of the country in mourning the passing of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, who played a pivotal role in bringing the LNG project into the country and giving Hela its own provincial government status.
An official launching programme will take place today at Hides.
MRDC managing director Augustine Mano, governors for Hela and Gulf – Philip Undialu and Chris Haiveta – Department of Petroleum and Energy secretary David Manau and Kumul Petroleum Holdings managing director Wapu Sonk will be in Hides for the launching which will be witnessed by the landowners and other stakeholder representatives of the PNG LNG project.
“This is the final process, which will see the landowners represented in the board of the company, which holds their interest in the PNG LNG project,” a statement by MRDC said.
“A full board is required by its trust deed and company constitution to deliberate on the affairs company, which includes royalty and equity benefit payouts.
“The elections will be conducted by the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea and will see the four directors elected to the board to represent six regions in Hides, PDL7: Keteranda, Parepare, Middle, Timalia Kangulu, Towanda Tokaju and Tuguba.
“Only the clan chairpersons of the category A clans per their respective ministerial determinations will participate in this election process.
“MRDC has so far successfully facilitated this election process for the LNG plant facility in 2017 and pipeline landowners in 2019.”