Petroleum Dept looks into legacy issues

DEPARTMENT of Petroleum has taken strategic steps to address legacy issues that continue to be a concern in existing projects, says acting Secretary Lohial Nuau.
Nuau said in his presentation at the petroleum and energy summit in Port Moresby on Tuesday that the department had undertaken several policy guidelines in managing the issues efficiently. He said the first development undertaken was a stocktake of outstanding Government commitments under various MOA. He said this was a positive step towards addressing landowner issues.
Nuau said the independent issues committee was established under the PDL 1 PNG LNG project landowner-based benefit sharing agreement. Its role is to facilitate resolution of outstanding issues, with Government support and funding.
He said the committee would play a key role in resolving many of legacy issues. In other developments, Nuau said a policy manual was being developed to improve landowner benefit management.
He said other developments included the petroleum warden policy and a regulation as required by the Oil and Gas Act of 1998, environment unit operation manual, and facilities service agreement with ExxonMobil and Oil Search.