State to occupy oil palm project land

Business, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday March 7th, 2014

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

The Department of Lands has turned over a document allowing the Department of Trade and Industry to occupy the state’s portion of the the multi-billion kina oil palm project in Urimo, Yangoru-Saussia district of East Sepik.

Lands secretary Romily Kilapat  presented the CAO to Trade, Commerce and Industry secretary John Andrias yesterday.

The certificate of authorization occupancy (CAO) legalises the state’s occupancy of about 10,000ha for the project. 

This land used to be the old government-owned Urimo cattle ranch.

The state would partner with international company Wilma International Company to develop the plantation. 

 “The whole project will cover 100,000ha and we have up to 18,000ha of state land for this project.”

“Eventually, we would like to see some titles being issued over this land to accommodate this major oil palm project,” Andrias said. 

The vehicle company, which will hold the interest of the state, is the Sepik Agro Industries Ltd

The CAO will be in the custody of the Department of Trade Commerce and Industry.