State land titles given to Esso Highlands

THE National Government has given three State land lease titles to the developer of the PNG LNG project, Esso Highlands Ltd.
The 99-year lease is for Portion 152 outside of Port Moresby where the LNG plant will be built.
Apart from the plant site (2456), the leases also cover the extra coastal strip (2457) where the jetty will be built and offshore underwater (2458).
The transfer of land lease titles to Esso is another milestone in the initial stages of the project as project partners work towards Dec 8 for the final investment decision (FID), Esso Highlands managing director, Peter Graham, said.
Esso Highlands Ltd is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Lands Sir Puka Temu and department secretary Pepi Kimas handed the three titles to Mr Graham last Friday in Port Moresby.
“PNG LNG project is now guaranteed the land for it to start construction, which is a very important phase for the project,” Sir Puka said, adding that all due processes were applied to grant the leases.
Mr Graham said the land titles provided certainty for the developers to invest billions of dollars in plant and equipment for construction at the site.