MRDC conducting landowners benefit programme

THE Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) is conducting royalty and equity distribution for pipeline segment two landowners of the PNG LNG project in Benaria, Hela.
The company said in a statement that the benefits programme started early this year with the Kikori pipeline landowners in Gulf being the first, followed by Kutubu, Southern Highlands, and Western.
It had to be suspended for three months due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
MRDC officials travelled to Tari to assist segment two clan leaders in completing the benefits distribution among the 135 clans.
One of the challenges the MRDC officials faced was the tribal fight in Benaria which displaced villagers and clan members entitled to the benefits.
The tribal fight claimed 14 lives and left homes and food gardens destroyed.
People left the area in fear of their lives, moving to Tari, Matgarima, Moro, Ialibu and even Mt Hagen.
General manager client services Imbi Tagune said it presented logistics difficulties for them.
They held meetings in Tari for the clan leaders who remained in Hela.
They also travelled to Mt Hagen to meet those clan members who had moved there.
“We have made a lot of progress in the last two weeks,” Tagune said.
“The clan leaders have basically agreed on how much each clan and sub clan in segment two will receive.”
Managing director Augustine Mano said they hoped to complete this process by end of this year.
Mano urged landowners to leave their differences aside and cooperate with leaders appointed so benefit roll out could be smooth.
“Apart from clans receiving cash benefits, they also have to determine what infrastructure projects to build for their community, and investments to make,” he said.
“The directors they appoint will make those decisions for them. I hope they can complete this process quickly this year.”