UP to 5,000 technical workers from Indonesia are expected to come to PNG to be employed in the construction phase of the multi-billion-kina PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, The National reports.
Indonesian embassy’s charge de affairs Budimansyah said an Indonesian company had won a sub-contract in the construction phase of the LNG project, and they would be bringing in these workers to do the job.
It is understood the Indonesian company won a sub-contract for work at portion 152 outside
But he said the 5,000 would be highly skilled technical workers.
The company is believed to be owned by the Indonesian government.
A PNG government spokesman, when asked to comment on this, said some aspects of work at portion 152 were highly technical, and the Indonesian workers brought
in had the experience in this field.
The government had also spoken in the past about plans to bring in 7,000 workers from
“The multi-billion-kina gas project has also attracted Indonesian companies who are seeking joint ventures with PNG companies to build cement factories in Lae and
He said the relationship between the two countries that share a common land border, had reached new heights since the visit by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono early this year.
He said businessmen from
He said 10 young businessmen had returned to PNG and were travelling to Lae to hold talks with the Papindo Group of Companies for a possible joint venture in building a cement factory.
“The demand for building houses is very high with the current LNG project.
“These businessmen are looking at feasibilities and possible joint venture with PNG companies to build cement factories.”
Budimansyah said if the condition was conducive, they would build cement factories in Lae and
He said the increased opportunities and good investment climate in PNG was attracting a lot of Indonesian companies.
We continue to harbour the expertise of outsiders and what about our own youth who are capable of doing such jobs? Why can't the Government spend on technical training for youth overseas if they really want PNGeans to maintain those jobs for the next phase.
ReplyDeleteReal Independence is tapping into our own people given their training. Foreigners coming into PNG will not fit in well,see the MCC Ramu Nickel Chinese cannot understand us,language barriers,breaking PNG Laws,getting in unskilled Chinese.
ReplyDeleteWe must not allow invasion like the MCC and the Indonesians into PNG. PNG does not need them at all. Indonesians are Muslims and they are not Papua New Guineans who will know and follow our traditions easily. Keep them out or the Govt is asking for more problem.
This is a classic invasion, we must be very very careful about how these Asians are mobilizing to take over where ONLY our government thinks we are incapable of developing our own. Let me reiterate the Indonesians are muslim of course, even the Filipinos who are already walking around our streets, what else and who else.
ReplyDeletePlease PNG citizens speak out aloud...we are independent and have all the rights to speak. Recall all the fights between the muslims and the christians in Indonesia???? Do we want that to happen to us?? Not at all!!
Brothers and sisters, we cannot cry foul here. Construction phase of such project as the LNG is costly and requires laborers that have skills and prior experience in implementing such projects; this is nothing new and is the norm.
ReplyDeleteCompanies stand to lose millions of kina/dollar if they fail to deliver project phase they were paid implement. That is the only option these sorts of companies have, recruit skill laborers with prior experiences.
I had a similar experience at Hidden Valley Gold Mines in Morobe in 2008/9 when about a 1000 Filipino fabricators were brought in to build the mill, the locals cried foul and took arms against the developer, Harmony Gold (now MMJV), but the reality was true, Harmony required more fabricators than number of fabricators in Morobe and PNG required to put the mill together.
What we can learn from this? Relevant authorities such as the Department of Labour should work close with the National Government in formulating capacity building strategy in line with future mineral and petroleum projects in PNG to train up our country men and women.
I believe the Department of Petroleum and Energy have a fair idea of new projects that will be launching soon in the next 5 years on their radar. This information can be passed to the Department of Labour and decimated through our technical schools and vocational training centers to become motivators for up skilling and focus on necessary skills required to put this sort of projects together.
One good example that a lot of my wantoks back in Lae and Morobe are not weary of is the Wafi Golpu Copper Project that is soon to go on line. The project will be bigger than Panguna and Ok Tedi put together in terms of size and copper concentrate. The question we must ask now is “what is the Morobe Provincial Government doing in preparing the province in terms of labour, infrastructure and other services to cater for this huge project that will soon launch in 2012/13/14?
Are we going to see the repeat of Hidden Valley, having 1000 foreigners coming in and installing the mills and process plants at Wafi?
Now is the time to put a plan into action….where are all those so called strategist of this country?
Kumbi'c