O’Neill, Agiru discuss issues

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill met on Monday with Hela Governor Anderson Agiru and Esso Highlands Ltd managing director Peter Graham and agreed that the way forward was for everyone to work together to address the issues raised by Agiru relating to the PNG LNG project.

O’Neill said the issues were highlighted in a petition that Agiru recently sent to the National Government asking the state to deliver certain commitments it is obliged to under the project’s benefits sharing agreement.

“A number of key agreements were reached during the meeting which all parties agree should be implemented in the best interest of everyone,” O’Neill said in a statement yesterday.

“The meeting on Monday was cordial and the discussions frank. We agreed that the way forward was for all of us to work together to address these issues raised by governor Agiru.”

Under the benefit sharing agreement reached with landowners and provincial governments, the national government was obliged to provide funds under high impact infrastructure projects, infrastructure development grants, business development grants and ministerial commitments for certain development projects and initiatives.

It was agreed during the meeting that the Government was obliged to meet  commitments made to landowners and provincial governments concerned. Some of these commitments remain outstanding.

It was also agreed that key impact projects to be implemented without delay were the Hela city development, Tari – Komo road upgrade and sealing, Tari hospital development and the Gulf – Southern Highway development. Other projects to be considered include the development of the townships of Mendi, Ialibu, Koroba, Komo, and Margarima, and the Nogoli and Kutubu growth centres.

The funding for these projects will be made available immediately under the infrastructure development grants and the high infrastructure impact project allocations in the 2013 Budget.

Agiru said: “I had to do what I did to protect my people’s development money, much of which has already been misused by payments to individuals. 

“In my view there are obligations that remain outstanding to EHL and the State, such as the 18km Hides 4 to Komo Road.

“EHL takes its commitments seriously.  In our view, we have met, if not exceeded, our commitments.  We have worked closely with Governor Agiru for many years to establish Hela province and successfully develop the PNG LNG project,” Graham said.