MRDC awareness on account opening for clans

THE Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) has completed an awareness exercise on the clan bank account opening for the Hides PDL1 (Petroleum Development Licence) beneficiaries in the PNG LNG Project in Hela.
The exercise is to ensure vital information and requirements on process are communicated to the landowners.
It also gives an opportunity to landowners to ask questions about the process.
It was carried out from April 15 to 19 in Tuguba, Hiwa, Tugu Tapiria, Kamea Kera and Habono.
The JP Karai region was left out due to an ongoing legal dispute before the National Court.
Stakeholders involved in the awareness exercise include the Department of Petroleum, the Bank of South Pacific Financial Group Limited (BSP), the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC), ExxonMobil, Santos, Hela provincial government, police, and the PNG Defence Force.
Bartholomew Yacop, the general manager of MRDC’s external affairs division told the landowners that there were four parts to the programme: awareness, collection of clan meeting minutes, opening of clan bank accounts, and the election of directors to the Hides PDL1 landowner company.
“MRDC is committed to ensuring that the clan bank account opening process will be transparent and independent, and your benefits are coordinated and paid in a timely manner,” he said.
BSP is responsible for the opening of the clan bank accounts. The PNG Electoral Commission will conduct the election of the directors.
Following the completion of the awareness exercise, the Department of Petroleum will collect minutes and resolutions from each of the clans.
The minutes and resolutions should clearly state the appointment of clan executives and the signatories to their account.
The clan bank account opening will begin on April 29 by BSP.