Political tussle worries PDL landowners

By PATRICK TALU
LANDOWNERS from Petroleum Development Licence (PDL) 1 to 9 areas have expressed concern that the political impasse between Sir Michael Somare and Peter O’Neill will affect the multi-billion kina LNG project.
PDL9 Landowners Association chairman, who is also PDL1 and PDL7 chief, John Kaloma and Mt Bosavi local level government president and Kutubu PDL2 spokesperson Francis Kerea said the political stand-off had already instilled fear in the minds of ExxonMobil and its partners as well as the project area landowners
The landowner leaders said they were very concerned that the political deadlock would have an adverse effect on investment opportunities in the LNG project and other foreign investments.
“The government has a moral obligation to protect and maintain confidence in any foreign and local investment and not create fear and anxieties among the investors,” landowner Hengebe Haluya said.