Landowner association praises Total SA

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

THE Purari Development Association of Gulf has praised Total SA, the developer of the Papua LNG, for the effort and work the company has done so far in developing the project. 

Association president Roy Evara said the project operator had been doing well.  

“The way they have come in is very positive, very good,” Evara said. 

“They were doing everything right and we appreciate what they have said from the time Total came into Papua New Guinea.”

The landowner association from the area where the Papua LNG project would be developed was disappointed with the Government for failing to respond to their submission about the project which they claimed to have given to then minister for petroleum and energy Nixon Duban seven months ago. 

Meanwhile, Total SA chairman and chief executive officer Patrick Pouyanné said the company understood the importance of landowners.

“Total has a specific issue here in Papua New Guinea,” he said. 

“I think it’s very important that we take that into account and we explain on what we intend to do.

“We inform them and then we discuss. It’s important for Total to create a good feeling for everybody, for all stakeholders to benefit from the project.

“When you are in the oil and gas business, you don’t decide where the oil and gas is. It’s natural. 

“So when you want to go and develop, you have to find good ways to be accepted by the local population.”