Were the Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas (NLG) signing Hijacked?

The Opposition has urged the Government to take heed of serious concerns expressed by affected groups and individuals over the signing of the PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project benefits sharing agreement (BSA) in Kokopo, East New Britain province in May.

Opposition leader Sir Mekere Morauta said judging from numerous public statements made by affected landowners, provincial governments and others, it is clear that all who signed the BSA documents had no idea what they were signing.

Sir Mekere was referring to media statements including those made by Gulf Governor Havila Kavo, Western province Governor Bob Danaya and chairman of Hiwa Tuguba Hides Association Simon Ekanda. Mr Kavo has publicly stated that his government would not support the project due to lack of proper awareness and social mappings of the pipeline route landowners in Gulf province.

Dr Danaya has threatened to go to court over what he termed as “loopholes, defects and anomalies” in the PNG LNG project agreement signed on May 22. On Monday, he took out two full pages of newspaper advertisement to highlight 32 alleged defects or anomalies in the agreement.

Mr Ekanda has taken out a court challenge to nullify the umbrella BSA, and this challenge is pending.“It is clear many leaders and landowner representatives were forced into signing the BSA document.

“There is growing dissatisfaction and the situation demands the Prime Minister and the Government to move quickly to address these concerns, otherwise what is brewing can be a problem and can have adverse effect on the multi-billion kina PNG LNG project.

“We all support it, but the people must support it with proper knowledge of what they are doing and what we have. “It seems people have been forced to support this. “This is not healthy for PNG’s future,” Sir Mekere warned. Early works on the project site has begun since the umbrella BSA was signed, with a final go-ahead decision on the project expected at the end of the year.

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