MRDC assures clans of payments

By GYNNIE KERO
THE Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) is confident that landowners of the PNG LNG Pipeline segments will receive before the year ends their benefits from the project.
The MRDC is preparing to move to Hela and Southern Highlands next week to open the bank accounts of the beneficiary clans there in the US$19 billion (about K57 billion) project.
It will also be conducting the process of electing directors which is needed to set up the board of the landowners’ trustee company Gas Resources PNGLNG Pipeline Limited to manage and pay the benefits.
MRDC managing director Augustine Mano said the landowners had been waiting for a long time to receive their benefits.
“As a trust manager, I will ensure that they receive their benefits and every signal toea will be paid directly to the clans’ bank accounts which are in the process (of being opened),” he said.
“I am encouraging and appealing to the remaining PL and PDL landowner leaders to put their differences aside and come together for the betterment of their people.”
After the completion of the pipeline segments, the MRDC will proceed to the Petroleum Development License (PDL) 1, 7, 8 and 9 areas.
“PDL areas where ministerial decisions are challenged in court will need to be cleared by the Department of Petroleum and Energy before they proceed to the account opening (stage),” he said.
The segments from one to eight are in Hela, SHP, Gulf and Central.
The account opening exercise has already been completed for segment 7 landowners in Kikori and segments 4 and 5 in Kutubu (SHP).
Hela police commander Teddy Agwi assured the people that police officers would be supporting the MRDC exercise.