InterOil mulls exclusive Gulf ops

INTEROIL Corp is moving to make final decision on location of its condensate stripping plant and its liquefied natural gas facility in Gulf province.
Gulf governor Havila Kavo gave the strongest indication yet, last Thursday, of InterOil’s intention to operate exclusively from Gulf without pulling a liquid gas carrier pipeline all the way from Gulf to InterOil’s Napa Napa facility at Port Moresby.
The indication was that InterOil was now more committed to developing, processing and marketing the condensate and liquified natural gas products directly from Gulf, he said.
Kavo said he had been briefed by the company of its intentions.
He was speaking at a public celebration of the formal opening of InterOil’s Gulf province office.
Rundown Kerema town became a hive of colourful activity last Thursday as townsfolk and nearby villagers celebrated the event hailed as a show of sincerity by InterOil of its development plans.
Kavo used the occasion to indicate that he was pleased InterOil was moving to develop its gas condensate stripping plant (CSP) and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility exclusively in Gulf.
 He said he was encouraged by InterOil’s cautionary approach to ensuring that issues pertaining to project impacted and affected area landowners were exhaustively and amicably dealt with as matters of priority to ensure harmonious development of the CSP and LNG facility.
 InterOil’s community affairs general manager Geoff Hiatt said the company was seriously looking at its Gulf project development options and a definite announcement would be made in the coming weeks of how the company will position its development options.
InterOil’s media and public affairs manager Susuve Laumaea described the office opening as symbolic of InterOil’s commitment to establish the company as “long haul” partner in driving Gulf’s overall socio-economic development initially on the back of the company’s vast Elk and Antelope natural gas discoveries.