LBBSA forum must be a priority, say MPs

LANDOWNERS in Southern Highlands province have been urged to “take ownership” of the coming licence-based benefits sharing (LBBSA) agreement forums for the PNG LNG project.
Two MPs from the Hela region in Southern Highlands province, Francis Potape (Komo-Margarima) and John Kekeno (Koroba-Lake Kopiago) made this call at Angore, Komo and Hides gas projects sites in Tari last Friday during a whirlwind tour.
Mr Potape and Mr Kekeno took the tour to assess preparations for the LBSA forums.
They told the landowners at Angore, Komo and Hides that the head deal that was the umbrella benefits sharing agreement (UBSA) for the LNG project was already signed in Kokopo in May and there was no way landowners should fight among themselves over little things but rather discuss and press for what major benefits for long term they could get for their licenced areas during the forums.
The two leaders asked the landowners to make the State team from Department of Petroleum and Energy (DPE) and developer ExxonMobil welcome during the forum.
Mr Potape said all landowner related issues that were needed to be addressed must be done once and for all so that the PNG LNG project got off the ground.