Provinces to gain from hydro project

 PROVINCES joined to the Purari river system will partly become major players in the Purari hydro-project under a joint ownership plan by the National Executive Council.

State Enterprise Minister Ben Micah told parliament yesterday that the NEC had decided to partner the provinces in the river system for the project believed to be one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. 

“After several issues regarding ownership, the NEC decided that the government will take ownership of the project through a special purpose vehicle that will involve the local people of the provinces in the river system,” he said. 

“This project is the game-changer for the people and the country. It is believed to be the biggest in Southern hemisphere and in the top five in the world. 

“The government feels that no small company can do it but only large world-renowned companies. 

“At the same time Cabinet decided that all upstream provinces where the river originates from in the Highlands and those in the river system in Gulf must be part owners so that it becomes a model for Papua New Guineans.”