Commencement of early works by Papua New Guinea Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Project

Oil Search is pleased to report that the PNG LNG Project participants have agreed to a proposal by the Project Operator, ExxonMobil, to commence Early Works activities on the PNG LNG Project.  Early Works include a range of infrastructure projects, such as the upgrade and repair of roads, construction of camps, wharf upgrades, early site preparation in the PNG Highlands, construction of training facilities and ordering of long lead items.

The development of this infrastructure will facilitate full construction to commence in early 2010, following the Final Investment Decision which is targeted to take place in late 2009.

This positive Early Works decision follows the recent signing of the Umbrella Benefits Sharing Agreement (Umbrella BSA) and substantial progress made on LNG marketing.

 The Umbrella BSA defines how benefits, including those provided for under the Oil and Gas Act, will be shared between the PNG Government, Provincial Governments, Project Area Landowners and Local Level Governments.

The negotiation of the Umbrella BSA was a major exercise in democracy. 

Held in Kokopo, East New Britain over a five week period, it involved over 1,000 representatives selected by the communities to represent them in the discussions.  The Umbrella BSA sets the framework for a series of individual licence-based agreements, to establish the final benefits distribution. 

As previously advised, significant progress has also been made on marketing the Project’s LNG and a further announcement on this is expected to be made soon.

Peter Botten, Oil Search's Managing Director, said: "The decision to proceed with Early Works, comprising an accelerated investment of approximately US$600 million over the next 12 months (US$200 million net to Oil Search), prior to the formal sanction of the Project at the end of this year, is a major vote of confidence in the PNG LNG Project.

“It demonstrates an increased level of commitment to the Project by the participants, as milestones are progressively met.  

As announced by ExxonMobil recently, a number of contracts for early works activities have already been awarded, including a major construction contract for Upstream Early Civil Infrastructure to Clough Curtain JV, a joint venture between Clough Niugini Ltd and Curtain Brothers PNG Ltd."

Computer trouble!

For a laugh…

I was having trouble with my computer.

So I called Richard, the 11 year old next door whose bedroom looks like Mission Control, and asked him to come over.

Richard clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.

As he was walking away, I called after him, 'So, what was wrong?

He replied, 'It was an ID ten T error.'

I didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired, 'An, ID Ten T error? What's that? In case I need to fix it again.'

Richard grinned. 'Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?''

‘No,' I replied.

'Write it down,' he said, 'and I think you'll figure it out.'

So I wrote down: I D 1 0 T

I used to like the little shit.

 

 

3,000 march against Papua New Guinea corruption

By Ilya Gridneff of AAP

June 14, 2009 - 12:29PM

 

More than 3,000 Papua New Guineans have turned out to march against corruption, calling on their countrymen to quit using traditional custom as an excuse for lawlessness and graft.

Corporate teams, non-government organisations, public institutions, school children and citizens came together at today’s rally in the capital Port Moresby under the banner "Enough is Enough!"

The third and biggest march organised by Transparency International (TI) against PNG's rampant corruption also drew a few politicians, but none from the government.

TI last year ranked PNG as the most-corrupt country in the Pacific and put it in lowly 151st place out of 180 countries in a global survey.

TI chairman Peter Aitsi said corruption of all kinds and every level of magnitude needed to be rooted out in PNG.

"We work in a shifting environment in terms of our culture," he told AAP.

"It's evolving and mixing with western cultures as well, which potentially causes instances where people can use custom as an excuse for corruption, so this is what we're confronting as well.

"Custom is there and can be appreciated, but we live under a law now and our constitutional law is what we all must abide by," he said.

PNG's closely tied kinship network, known as the wantok system, is seen as both a social safety net and destabiliser as it relies on perpetual welfare and favours.

"In 2007, (the march) was mainly corporate teams and individuals," Aitsi said.

"In 2009, we've had 30 (government) departments come along, and last year we had the department of finance audit team come along.

"The message has started to be heard.

"It's the beginning - we have the members of the opposition there and so what we want to do is build a bridge.

"It's in the government's interest in supporting a community initiative that is bringing positive change to the country," he said.

The march was led by PNG's Governor-General Paulias Matane. Only three politicians attended, all from the opposition.

Last month, Prime Minister Michael Somare admitted community resentment over widespread corruption in PNG's police force and labour and immigration departments was one factor behind a spate of anti-Chinese attacks.

Sleeping beauties!

Attached are pictures of my four young children fast asleep last Friday night.
Left to right are Jr (8), Moasing (4), Gedi (7) and Keith (2).

National Geographic best pictures for the year!

Hot curry

Curry powder sparks fire alert on Air India plane
Article from: AAP
From correspondents in Mumbai

June 13, 2009 08:28pm

AN Air India passenger jet heading to Frankfurt was forced to return to Mumbai after a bag of curry powder set off smoke and fire alarms, according to reports.
Pilots on the Boeing 747-400 plane activated fire extinguishers after receiving a cockpit warning about a fire in the cargo hold early Friday morning, the Mumbai Mirror newspaper said.
But on the plane's return to India's financial and entertainment capital, engineers said the alert had been triggered by the escape of particles from a bag containing up to 3kg of curry powder.
The bag, belonging to a passenger from the western Indian state of Gujarat, was removed before the plane took off again after a 12-hour delay.
"On taking off for the second time, the pilot apologised for the delay and announced that a bag containing curry powder had caused the problem," Air India spokesman Jitendra Bhargava was quoted as saying.
Mangoes and meat products that generate heat have been suspected of causing similar incidents on Air India flights in the past, the newspaper said.

Local Papua New Guinea beauty

Picture of a local beauty at the Kerevat National High School singsing day outside Rabaul, East New Britain province, last weekend. Picture by JOHN PANGKATANA