Paita threatens to revoke hydro project’s licence

By GLORIA BAUAI
FINSCHHAFEN MP and National Planning and Monitoring MinisterRainbo Paita has given Burum Hydro project landowners two weeks to sort out their integrated landowner group (ILG) certification.
“The licence for the project in remote Burum was issued on May 21, following the National Executive Committee’s approval and an initial K210 million funding.
“The construction is delayed due to landowner disputes,” he said.
“The landowners are warned that the licence will be revoked if the issues are not resolved in two weeks.”
Former Ward 9 councillor Ali Heutuke said the 21-MegaWatt hydro project was very important for Burum and should quickly get off the ground.
“Under the memorandum of understanding signed with the investor, we will ask that the three wards and the catchment area receive free power,” he said.
“In addition to that are the spin-offs, where locals can participate in job opportunities or businesses created from this and also the dividends when the hydro goes into operation.”
Heutuke said they were the Wafi-Golpu gold-copper project which needed 20MW of power was the main consumer.
“We aim to get into operation before the commencement of the gold-copper project and compete with other energy suppliers like LNG, Biomass and Ramu 2 for Wafi-Golpu,” he added.
Burum Hydro ILG team leader Cliff Wembivong said the nine ILG coordinators would meet for a full mediation next week with land mediators, court officials and police to resolve the disputes.