Landowners hail summit’s ‘informative topics’

By MARK HAIHUIE
A LANDOWNER company official from the PNG LNG Plant in Central has described the PNG Petroleum and Energy Summit in Port Moresby as very informative.
Gas Resources PNG LNG Plant chairperson Ulato Avei said it was vital for landowners to be recognised and represented at such events. “Landowners are important for any project that is coming. I find it (summit) very informative with interesting papers presented which are very relevant to landowners to understand,” Avei said.
“The presentation by Total and Exxon on the plant site extension was great. As landowners of the plant site, we are excited to hear about the expansion of the plant site with the inclusion of more trains coming on board. That information is critical for us to prepare and update our people.”
Avei said social mapping issues were a hindrance to landowners and urged the State to do more on the issue.
“It would be good to have the upstream and the midstream landowners for PNG LNG represented at such important forums after going through the process like we have,” she said.
“It goes back to the State who must handle this properly to have them on board. I can understand that social mapping has not been completed and it is difficult to identify leaders. But landowner representation is very important and we must not be left out.”