Facts of the Lae port project

By FRANK ASAELI of PNGPCL

 

THE overseas wharf extension at Lae port (pictured) is funded by PNG Ports Corporation (PNGPCL) and not the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as many people think.

The budget for the project is about K88 million, and variations to the project may see total costs exceed K90m.

PNGPCL chief executive officer Brian Riches said the project, being constructed by Nawae Construction, would not only cater for the multi-billion kina liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

Mr Riches said although PNGPCL intended to provide port services for the LNG project, the extension of the wharf was earmarked well before the proposed LNG project for general incoming (import) and outgoing (export) overseas vessels.

“PNG Ports states the contract to Nawae Construction is valued at approximately K88.02m, with payments to date of K26.4m,” he said.

“Like all PNGPCL’s other ports, Lae port projects are undertaken as a result of either the deterioration of the existing facilities, or the need to extend these existing facilities to accommodate the increasing size and number of vessels annually in all ports or new facilities to meet our stakeholders’ requirements and to facilitate trade.

“Outside Australia and New Zealand, Lae port is the largest port in the Pacific region and generates 52% of the PNGPCL revenue.

“This project signifies our understanding of stakeholders’ demand for maritime services and the requirement to facilitating trade growth.

“More than 80% of all export/import trade passes through our nation’s sea ports.   

“PNGPCL takes the responsibility seriously in benchmarking port efficiency with other ports within the region.

“We also acknowledge we have to improve and expand our port facilities.”

Mr Riches said it was estimated that PNGPCL needed approximately K2-3 billion to rehabilitate its facilities across its network of 16 ports, which did not include the cost of the proposed Port Moresby port relocation.

The year just gone, and a challenging one ahead for Papua New Guinea

By REG RENAGI

THE Papua New Guinea government remains in power until an election in 2012 and economic forecasts until then look favourable.

But 2009 posed many challenges.

 Discouraging social indicators.

Government performance not up to expectations.

PNG already forecast to fall short of UN goals for 2015.

Opposition and people denied a voice in parliament.

 Laws passed without proper debate.

Key appointments not made on merit.

 Political patronage biased towards special interests. Government failing to investigate corruption allegations and misconduct.

The non-minerals sector remains undeveloped with a bias towards big mineral projects. PNG lacks internal capacity to properly manage two major LNG projects.

Human capital needs priority investment.

Overall, PNG is underdeveloped due to poor planning, inadequate service delivery and ineffective resource management.

Political reform is long overdue.

2010 brings more challenges.

Australia remains an important strategic partner.

Strong regional bilateral relationships will be maintained (Fiji is back on the agenda). China is a new foreign policy challenge.

PM Somare may well try to give the National Alliance party leadership to his son, Arthur, before the next election.

Offsetting this there may be splinter groups within the National Alliance that will challenge Somare’s leadership.

Whatever the outcome, PNG needs a new political order.

 

Wanted: a political approach to empower Papua New Guinea citizens

By REG RENAGI

SINCE INDEPENDENCE, successive governments have betrayed the values that brought Papua New Guinea to nationhood.

The early political promise at independence of providing opportunities to the people, taking responsibility and rewarding those who work hard, seems to have been forgotten.

The result is the people got poorer while the few who got the power and their special interest friends got richer.

PNG has some of the world’s best natural resources and most resourceful people.

The country’s natural beauty, culture and lifestyle could make it a great place to live, work, visit and do business.

Yet, since independence, the country has mismanaged its assets and squandered its opportunities.

The consequences are high unemployment, low incomes, a high tax economy, substantial urban migration, below standard services and a big national debt.

The political system is not working effectively for its people.

Waigani is dominated by special interests and an entrenched bureaucracy that has failed its mission of serving the people in all conditions.

Papua New Guineans are tired of the way their country has been mismanaged and are ready for leaders who are willing to take responsibility to lead the nation to prosperity and growth.

To do this, PNG’s leadership must have a good strategy for change that will transform the country.

The strategy must put people first with a plan to provide avenues for people to fully engage in life-changing opportunities.

The next new prime minister must start dealing with basic problems ignored for many years.

The next government must apply rational policies to traditional resource industries to make PNG competitive and provide benefits to all citizens.

More money must be put into the pockets of those who need it most.

Small and medium businesses, tourism, IT, fisheries, forestry and agriculture must be targeted.

The future government must ensure equality for all citizens by empowering them to equally participate in the country’s development.

PNG must ensure its natural resources are conserved and used for the collective benefit of all citizens and future generations.

Lae, Moresby ports undergo transformation as LNG work starts

Lae and Port Moresby ports will see massive transformation in 2010 as infrastructure work on the two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects begin in earnest, according to chief PNG Ports Corporation Ltd executive officer Brian Riches (pictured).

Mr Riches said this in his New Year’s message to all stakeholders of PNGPCL.

“In 2010, our stakeholders will see major process and infrastructure changes in both Port Moresby and Lae Ports, with benefits to all concerned,” he asserted.

“Trade facilitation is our major focus in 2010.

“2010 will be one of our most-important years ever, and together we will transform our two most-busiest ports from ‘one of the best’ to ‘the best’ and most-efficient in the Pacific Region. 

Mr Riches acknowledged all stakeholders of PNGPCL for their support and excellent working relationship throughout 2009.

“As part of PNG Ports’ management strategy, stakeholder relations are paramount in our operations and management of our ports,” he said.

“Therefore, in this regard, PNG Ports has now embarked on a new campaign with a particular focus at creating awareness and building partnership with private investors, government departments, and port users as well as entering into short and long-term arrangements with donor agencies to procure capacity-building assistance.

“Our infrastructure rehabilitation agenda currently pursued by the company is prioritised with the intention of enhancing operational efficiency.

“As you may be aware, PNG Ports is well into the process of re-branding and transforming itself from a previous public sector mindset into a vibrant private sector organisation which is committed at delivering the best service for its customers with a focus to improving and delivering quality customer service.

“The change agenda is currently being implemented across the entire organisation including all aspects of its business operations.

“PNG Ports has been undergoing significant internal change in 2008 and 2009, and whilst this will continue, 2010 will be the year for PNG Ports Corporation where it is set to transform our relationship with external customers and stakeholders.

“We will also be defining our community service obligations (CSO) and working with Government to define exactly what is our CSO, what it costs and ensuring the nation sees that cost as the ‘dividend’ this  State-owned enterprise pays back to PNG and our nation as a whole.

“Currently, our CSO expense exceeds many millions of Kina.

“Also, as part of our on-going commitment to safety and security, PNG Ports has embarked to establish a relationship and partnership with the Australian Security Advisors on how best to achieve and deliver best practice security and safety systems.”

Lunch hour traffic along Waigani Drive, Port Moresby, today

I took these pictures along Waigani Drive in Port Moresby at lunchtime today as I was walking back to my office at The National newspaper.

NARI's new laboratory is world-class

Caption: Minister Michael Ogio (centre) and guests enjoying a demonstration on one of the new equipment, Inductive Coupled Plasma Spectrometer, during the commissioning of the new NARI Chemistry Laboratory

 

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

 

National Agriculture Research Institute’s chemistry laboratory in Port Moresby has the potential to become one of the world’s leading agricultural laboratories.

The laboratory boasts a refurbished building facility with new and state-of-art analytical equipment which are comparable to leading agricultural laboratories internationally, to provide first-class testing services to the agricultural sector in PNG.

They were installed through public support at the value of more than K4 million.

The equipment include some of the latest and the most advanced analytical equipment such as ICP (Inductive Coupled Plasma Spectrometer) , HPLC ( High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph), FIA (Flow Injector Analyser), AAS (Automatic Absorption Spectrometer), CS (Carbon Analyser),  Bomb Calorimeter, and rubber certification equipment. 

Services they provide include:

·        Soil and leaf analysis for assessing soil fertility, crop suitability, identification of deficiencies and to recommend fertiliser technologies;

·        Food testing for quality, nutrients, deficiencies and contaminants;

·        Natural product analysis, spice and pyrethrum testing for assessment of correct harvesting, drying, treatment and quality;

·        Root and tuber analysis for quality, grading and specifications;

·        Stock-feed analysis for nutrient content and best formulation;

·        Fertiliser analysis for specification conformance;

·        Drinking water testing for quality and standards conformance;

·        Environmental analysis of river water, sea water, soils and wastes; and

·        Carbon footprinting of climate change.

The new laboratory and testing facilities were officially commissioned by the Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Michael Ogio recently, witnessed by representatives from European Union, AusAID, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, NARI and many other stakeholders.

With this world-class laboratory facility, NARI is now well-positioned to provide necessary analytical and advisory services not only to the agricultural sector (both smallholders and commercial agriculture) but also to others in the areas of environment, public health, education, training and research.

The services can also be provided to other countries in the South Pacific.

The installation of the new facilities came as a restoration exercise after the old facility was destroyed in an accidental fire in 2005.

 Through tireless efforts, NARI was able to steadily mobilise funding and partnership support. Thus was the restoration of equipment and instruments with funding support from PNG government under the National Agriculture Development Plan and laboratory building rehabilitation by European Union and NARI.

NARI is looking forward to further enhancement of its abilities in the areas of laboratory accreditation, organic testing and certification, food testing of all types and types, and human resource development under the SPACNET initiatives by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Funeral Service Programme for Late Henry Kila, OBE

Thursday 7th January 2010

Sioni Kami Memorial Church, Port Moresby

09.30AM Arrival of family, firends and relatives

10.00AM Arrival of casket

10.30AM Service Commences

12.00PM End of Service, casket returns to Funeral Home

12.30PM Refreshments at Sioni Kami Recreation Area

Friday 8th January 2010

06.00AM Casket leaves for Delena Village

09.00-2.00PM Funeral Service

2.30PM Casket departs for Arure, Yule Island, and overnight

Saturday 9th January, 2010

Burial at Arure

You can pay your tributes to this great man by making a comment below this post