LNG dispute resolutions being finalised for court

By SAMUEL RAITANO and PATRICK TALU

 

THE terms of reference for an alternative dispute resolution process, on all court matters relating to the multi-billion kina liquefied natural gas project, are being finalised and will be presented to the National Court for its endorsement, The National reports.

These terms of references would enable mediation among LNG partners dealing with the Kokopo UBSA and LBBSA of May 22, 2008, and December 2009.

Last month, and again last week, Justice Ambeng Kandakasi ordered that terms of reference for a mediation process be drawn up for all parties involved in the LNG project to use during mediation.

According to a draft terms of reference, the mediation process would cover Hides PDL 1 and 7, Angore PDL 8, Juha PDL 9, the Hides gas conditioning plant site, Komo Airport, pipeline, Moran PDL 5 and PDL 6, Kutubu PDL 2, Gobe PDL 3 and PDL 4 and the processing facility areas.

It would also cover other LNG dispute areas.

Counsel representing all aggrieved LNG project landowners Justin Hayara of Steel Lawyers would present the terms of reference at the National Court this week.

Issues to be covered under the terms of reference included:

• Issues of eligibility or powers to receive business development grant and recognition as licensed-based umbrella company and umbrella associations;
• Proceedings challenging customary landownership based on block concept with PDL area;
• Proceeding seeking payment of outstanding MoA funds;
•  Proceedings challenging the validity or otherwise of ministerial determination and social mapping of landowner identification studies;
• Proceeding challenging the validity of the PNG gas agreement, Kokopo UBSA and LBBSA;
• Proceeding challenging the validity of legislative provision, SCR No.5 of 2010, SCR No.07 of 2010; and
• Proceedings as to the election of directors and appointment of bank signatures – WS No.05 of 2011 – Portion 152.

Under the terms of reference, documents required would include the cost and benefit analysis done by the National Fiscal and Economic Commission, co-coordinated development and operation agreement referred to in the PNG LNG agreement, the content of Abu Dhabi financial deal and records of Land Titles Commission and the local land court or provincial land court in respect of the land within each licensed areas.

All the relevant government departments who have been involved in the LNG project would be parties to the mediation along with the plaintiffs.

Other parties included:

• The developers led by Esso Highlands Ltd;
• The state comprising the solicitor-general, attorney-general and his secretary and all secretaries and their deputies from the departments of petroleum and energy, national planning and monitoring, finance, treasury, commerce and industry,  lands and physical planning, and works;
• Provincial administrators of Southern Highlands, Gulf, Western and Central;
• Hela Transitional Authority led by the chief executive officer; and
• National Gas Corporation led by its chairman Alfred Kaiabe.

 

New malaria drug in April

By ELIZABETH VUVU

 

A NEW drug to treat malaria called artemether-lumerfantrine, will be available in April in the country, The National reports.

The need for an upgraded treatment for the disease was due to the strong  resistance of malaria to the chloroquine drug which was widespread and becoming a concern in Papua New Guinea with the government declaring it as one of the top five priority illnesses.

The drug is a combination of two drugs into one tablet known as mala-1.

Artemeter derives from artemisinin, a plant native to China, and it was recommended that artemisinin was used in combination with another drug lumerfantribe to prevent malaria parasites not to learn the single drug alone.

According to Annette Coppola of the Department of Health, the drug would kill parasites quickly with the patient feeling well, it would work on malaria parasites and help to prevent transmission of malaria to other people and well-tolerated.

She said the single drug of Artemisinins in chloroquine was not recommended for the treatment of falciparum malaria in PNG.

She said Mala-1 was used worldwide in tropical countries.

Meanwhile, when asked why it had taken so long to phase out the use of Chloroquine in PNG and to use Mala-1, Dr Zaixing Zhang, a malariologist with World Health Organisation (WHO) said PNG had to have evidence why choloroquine was not effective and research to say which drug was appropriate for PNG and in this case it was Mala-1.

He said the PNG Institute of Medical Research had taken on this difficult task in the past years collecting data in different areas.

Zaixing said due to the fact that chloroquine was a cheap drug, many countries had been dragging their feet to get new malaria drugs.

Mala-1 was more expensive than other malaria drugs and packaging was made overseas and the department would know if it was illegally being sold on the streets.

 

 

 

 

APNG expands fleet with 10th Twin Otter

AIRLINES PNG (APNG) last Thursday announced an expansion of its fleet with the purchase of a De Havilland DHC-6-300 (Twin Otter) aircraft, The National reports.

The acquisition, which brings the total of Twin Otter fleet to 10, is aimed not only at providing APNG with enhanced capacity for new services but also at easing the burden on existing operations.

In a statement, APNG said the aircraft, with a capacity of 19 seats, was still in the United States, where it would remain for modifications before it is ferried to PNG by middle of next month.

These modifications would include installation of the state-of-the-art avionics equipment, which were announced last year as part of a fleet-wide initiative for the upgrade of all APNG Twin Otter aircraft.

“This year, APNG plans to increase its fleet size by up to 25%,” an unidentified APNG spokesperson was quoted in the statement.

“Delivery of this aircraft represents the first step in this expansion process which is necessary to position the company for anticipated growth opportunities,” the statement said.

The Twin Otter operates shorter regional flying missions for APNG and remains integral in future plans to service remote areas more efficiently for both corporate clients and the general public.

The Twin Otter would also be used to provide vital community services such as mail delivery and emergency medical evacuations, the spokesperson said.

“The Twin Otter is one of very few aircraft types suited to the difficult operating environment in PNG, particularly in the more remote areas of the country,” where it would provide vital community services such as mail delivery and emergency medical evacuations,” the spokesperson said.

The “Twin Otter” would be used to provide vital community services such as mail delivery and emergency medical evacuations,” the spokesperson said.

LNG plant shut down

Villagers go on rampage over boy's death

 

ANGRY landowners of Hides 4 PDL 7 have shut down the liquefied natural gas (LNG) conditioning plant following the death of a boy, The National reports.

The stop-work began on Saturday at 8am, a day after work resumed last Friday.

The first stop-work was over issues relating to their outstanding business development grants, memorandum of agreement funds and ministerial commitments.

Gigira Hides 4 Joint Venture chairman Erick Ayule, Hides Special Purpose Authority chairman Limson Mapiria, Hides 4 Landowners Umbrella Association chairman Chris Payabe and other Hides leaders confirmed the shut-down yesterday.

Mapiria said relatives of the deceased, whose age could not confirmed, said he was with two others who allegedly consumed a powder-like substance used for drill blast at a quarry site near Hides 4.

The boys were all taken to Mendi Hospital. One passed away and two are still at the hospital.

Hospital authorities could not determine the cause of death.

Mapiria said: "There was set procedures to follow in addressing such grievances but opportunists have taken advantage of the already volatile situation and stopped work on the project."

He said angry mobs, frustrated over various LNG-related matters, took advantage of the situation and looted the camp and chased CCJV and CPI-Clough workers.

Ayule said they did not physically harm the construction workers or destroy their equipment, but forced them to stop work and leave.

Relatives of the deceased had demanded compensation from CPI-Clough and CCJV for allegedly spilling the chemical which killed the boy.

Reports said the workers were airlifted to Mendi.

Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said he would travel to Mendi this week to wait for the government to find money to meet all outstanding commitments.

He also challenged the departments of commerce and industry and petroleum and energy to fix the mess created at the LNG project sites.

"My landowners will not be suppressed."

Agiru, however, refused to comment on CCJV's withdrawal of its workers, claiming that it had to do with workplace safety and health issues.

"This is the tip of the iceberg of problems associated with a number of outstanding issues including seed capital, MoA and ministerial commitments."

Agiru said integrated landowner groups had not been formed and landowner identification was yet to take place.

"I sympathise with my landowners and developer ExxonMobil; and I want the Waigani public servants to go and solve the issue on the ground.

"I am not going to go and correct somebody's mistake. They have to leave their comfort zones in Waigani to fix their own problems."

LNG plant shut down

Villagers go on rampage over boy’s death

 

ANGRY landowners of Hides 4 PDL 7 have shut down the liquefied natural gas (LNG) conditioning plant following the death of a boy, The National reports.

The stop-work began on Saturday at 8am, a day after work resumed last Friday.

The first stop-work was over issues relating to their outstanding business development grants, memorandum of agreement funds and ministerial commitments.

Gigira Hides 4 Joint Venture chairman Erick Ayule, Hides Special Purpose Authority chairman Limson Mapiria, Hides 4 Landowners Umbrella Association chairman Chris Payabe and other Hides leaders confirmed the shut-down yesterday.

Mapiria said relatives of the deceased, whose age could not confirmed, said he was with two others who allegedly consumed a powder-like substance used for drill blast at a quarry site near Hides 4.

The boys were all taken to Mendi Hospital. One passed away and two are still at the hospital.

Hospital authorities could not determine the cause of death.

Mapiria said: “There was set procedures to follow in addressing such grievances but opportunists have taken advantage of the already volatile situation and stopped work on the project.”

He said angry mobs, frustrated over various LNG-related matters, took advantage of the situation and looted the camp and chased CCJV and CPI-Clough workers.

Ayule said they did not physically harm the construction workers or destroy their equipment, but forced them to stop work and leave.

Relatives of the deceased had demanded compensation from CPI-Clough and CCJV for allegedly spilling the chemical which killed the boy.

Reports said the workers were airlifted to Mendi.

Meanwhile, Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru said he would travel to Mendi this week to wait for the government to find money to meet all outstanding commitments.

He also challenged the departments of commerce and industry and petroleum and energy to fix the mess created at the LNG project sites.

“My landowners will not be suppressed.”

Agiru, however, refused to comment on CCJV’s withdrawal of its workers, claiming that it had to do with workplace safety and health issues.

“This is the tip of the iceberg of problems associated with a number of outstanding issues including seed capital, MoA and ministerial commitments.”

Agiru said integrated landowner groups had not been formed and landowner identification was yet to take place.

“I sympathise with my landowners and developer ExxonMobil; and I want the Waigani public servants to go and solve the issue on the ground.

“I am not going to go and correct somebody’s mistake. They have to leave their comfort zones in Waigani to fix their own problems.”

 

 

Australian aid to corrupt countries

By JOHN PASQUARELLI

How many Australians have serious concerns about how their taxes are shovelled off to so many dubious recipients of foreign aid by our politicians?

'Charity begins at home' is being proclaimed by those who oppose the level of our foreign aid when it is viewed against the backdrop of disasters like floods and bushfires as well as the plight of those home-grown Australians who are disadvantaged for whatever reason. 

 This doesn't stop a lot of silly politicians feeling good about dishing out our money overseas and it certainly doesn't stop dills like Kevin Rudd making a big man of himself as he pursues his agenda to get on board the UN.

Massive corruption in the majority of recipient countries guarantees that it is impossible to ensure that Australian aid dollars gets to those who are supposed to need it. 

Why do we have to give millions to Indonesia and how can we justify sending our money to African countries where monsters like Mugabe have supporters in the UN and even here in Australia? 

 

A recent piece in the business section of  'The Australian' – Paul Cleary, Jan 20,  is beyond belief as it describes aid-recipient Papua New Guinea powerbrokers buying into Australia. 

 

When will our so-called leaders wake up? 

Sunset Merona operations disgraceful: Namah

Leader of PNG Party and Vanimo Green MP Belden Namah has described as disgraceful, certain actions of security force members currently engaged in the joint operations, Sunset Merona, in Vanimo and areas along the PNG-Indonesia common border initially to flush out OPM rebels.

Namah noted with grave concern that certain conducts of security forces were inconsistent and contrary to the mission of operation which was publicly announced, to destroy OPM camps on the PNG side of the border.

He cited instances of landowners told by the members of the security forces to ask for compensation and road levies from logging companies operating in the operation areas.

"This is very, very disgraceful," Namah said.

"It is a national disgrace for landowners to be told by security forces to set road blocks to collect road levies, when such infrastructures are national assets.

"If they are targeting foreign workers for work permits, passports and other related documents, that is fine, but why are they encouraging the landowners to engage in actions that causes disruption and destructive to the smooth operations of companies in the area.

"The security forces must concentrate on the core focus of the operation.

"They must not deviate from the original mission, creating problems and anxiety for investors, their employees and communities in the Vanimo/Green River district."

Namah said such actions were totally against the charter of the operation and could well result in the mission not accomplished.

He said instead of harassing innocent people in and around Vanimo and using landowners to disrupt the operations of logging and other companies, the operation must concentrate on its mission.

"The operation should go into Bewani, Imonda, Amanab, Wutung and Green River to achieve its mission," Namah, a former PNG Defence force soldier, said.

"It should not cause havoc and problems for the peace-loving majority citizens of Sandaun."