K4.9mil for pipeline landowners

THE PNG LNG pipeline segments three, four and five will receive their shares of project benefits totalling K4.9 million this week, according to the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC).
They follow the 37 major beneficiary clans in segment seven, Kikori, who were the first to receive their shares – K9.2 million out of K21.9 million earmarked as cash benefits for the entire pipeline segments of the project recently.
MRDC launched the payment exercise in Kikori, Gulf last Wednesday witnessed by the Minister for Petroleum and Energy Kerenga Kua and Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta.
The three segments (3, 4 and 5) are part of eight segments along the 679km pipeline transporting gas from Hides in Hela to Caution Bay outside Port Moresby.
The pipeline runs through five provinces – Hela, Southern Highlands, Gulf, Western and Central.
Segments three, four and five beneficiaries are from Moran, Kutubu and Gobe in Southern Highlands and have a total of 77 clans as per their respective ministerial determinations (G359, G360 and G361 of 2018).
Segment three has 20 major clans and 27 sub clans who will share K850,000, segment four has 10 major clans and 10 sub clans who will share K1.5 million while segment five has 10 major clans and will share K2.5millon.
Director representing segments four and five on the board of the pipeline trust company Gas Resources Pipeline Ltd (GR Pipeline), Telabe Babena, expressed his appreciation and relief saying he was glad the people would finally receive their benefits.
“It’s been a long wait, many people have died and gone without seeing the benefits promised to them almost seven years ago when the project started,” he said.
“I am glad this day is finally here, this is a start and for those of us here now we can enjoy this benefits in a positive way.”