Landowners’ participation in project now official

THE landowners of the Elk Antelope resources in PRL 15 (Petroleum Retention License) in Paiwaia, Kikori, Gulf have handed over the certificates of their business and association to Total E&P PNG Limited.
The certificates were delivered to the company’s community affairs representatives at Wabo station last Monday.
Total is the operator of the Papua LNG project.
Amos Neripe, principal landowner, chief of the Jao Hoo clan and chairman of the Kiausonghai Association gave the certificates to company officials.
“I as the owner of the Elk Antelope gas fields have been organising an association and a company for my clan for sometime in compliance to the Oil and Gas Act hereby officially hand the certificates to you,” Naripe said.
“The landowner company intends to participate in the project while the association will look after the affairs of clan members and other community developments that will assist in improving the living standards of my people.”
Senior community affairs officer Jim Kia said the event took place “with the full knowledge of Total’s chief executive and Community Affairs Manager”.
The Elk Antelope resources in the Paiwaia area is around 7tcf (trillion cubic feet) of gas which is massive.
Elk Antelope will be commissioned to operate soon and this would entail transformation of the area with pipeline and conditioning plant developments.
As a consequence, there will be an influx of people and companies into the area to part take part in the development.
The Jao Hoo clan, after the registration of its company and association, is now better positioned to actively participate as principal landowners of the gas field.