Project needs clarification

ON January 18, Kikori MP Soroi Eoe discussed five major impact projects, including Papua LNG project for Kikori district in Gulf.
The Ihu special economic zone (ISEZ) Project is considered a major one and will consist of a free-trade zone, petroleum park, industrial zone, technology park, government and administration zone, and others.
These impact projects will directly generate for Gulf and PNG Government a revenue ranging from K10 to K12 billion annually.
After completion of stage one for first 15 years, once the ISEZ project becomes fully operational, there may be much more after that for Gulf and PNG governments from 15 to 25 years.
On job creation, there will be about 12,000 jobs directly created and indirectly additional 25,000 jobs.
This is a massive development project for Kikori in the next five years.
We are all excited and look forward to support so that these projects can become reality.
There are few questions that need clarification.
Who is going to fund these projects, as there was no mention of sources of funding apart from Apec being mentioned?
How much will it cost to develop these projects?
When will construction work begin and when will stage one be completed?
Have we addressed policy and legislative issues such as project permits, licenses, environment impact assessment?
Are all stakeholders involved, including landowners, in these projects?
Have we done the surveys related to socio-economic, health, marine and land-impact studies on lives of our people who will be affected?
Until all these basic questions are answered and necessary project documentation including environmental impact studies are done, project mobilisation and construction of stage one may be delayed for yet another five years.
Our problem over the years has been approaching projects in a more-structured way.
Kikori is an economic district and will host the second Papua LNG project.
What has happened to economic and spin-off benefits from these activities that have brought in
millions of kina to Gulf and PNG governments?
What benefits have these brought to the people of Gulf and Kikori?
Why is it that Kikori and Gulf people are still struggling to see improvements in basic services compared to other districts?
The petroleum park and industrial zone projects are not new projects.
These have been talked about by former governor Havila Kavo back in 2009-10 but never got off the
ground. Kikori has a history of talking big about projects in print media but it has never physically delivered projects worth a K1 million or more on time.
There are many Nato (no action talk only) projects in Kikori – Kikori Airport, Paia international port, mv Baimuru/Ahia, Kerema-Kikori road, Vailala oil palm, Baimuru administration, office/market, Orokolo petroleum park and industrial zone, Wouwou-Kikori Road and Baimuru High School.
The list is quite extensive.
This is a defining moment
for Kikori MP, Kikori district
development authority, Gulf governor and provincial administration to deliver an impact project
of such a magnitude in the province.
Kikori DDA and Gulf administration can build momentum from now on to make smart choices of competent project managers.
Chose proven major project engineering firms and contractors who can deliver these impact projects on budget and schedule within next five years.
The nation and its people have been well informed now.
The question is, can we deliver on our promises and on schedule for our people or will these become just another of the “Nato” projects?

BK Dara
Baimuru
Gulf