National Reports on O'Neill's tour of Gulf; Big Plans

[Palm]

It's more than obvious that Gulf Province is very high on PNGs plans for infrastructure development. Ring ring. Hello Mr Premier of China, we have made our planning complete and identified necessary projects fir Gulf Province. We are ready to have you start earmarking funds. Thank You!

. PM takes tour of Gulf

Source:

The National, Monday 04th March, 2013

Reports and pictures

by JEFFREY ELAPA

THE proposed Piam International Port is now a matter of time following Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s commitment last weekend during his tour of Gulf.

The port and the Gulf Southern Highlands Highway were first broached when O’Neill was PNC chairman in 1998.

Now as prime minister, he intends to see it become reality to give the highlands a second access to a sea port and the first port in the southern part of the country.

O’Neill toured the entire province for two days to fulfill commitments he made to the people during last year’s general elections.

On his first leg of the visit, the PM flew to Wouobo village, a village with fewer than 500 people located along the Moredi River in the Kikori district and told the people that the government would take the lead to build the port during this term of parliament.

He said the port could serve big developments like the InterOil Gulf LNG project, the many logging and processing plants, the Purari hydro development, the Kutubu and other oil producing wells, the PNG LNG project, the Porgera gold mine and the Mt Kare gold development, as well as the highlands’ rich agricultural cash crops.

He admitted the project could take time as there was no engineering and design work but promised it would be reality within this term of parliament.

O’Neill said another important infrastructure was the Gulf Southern Highlands Highway which would be completed by the end of this year after he released a further  K10 million for the road.

He said he started the road when he was the chairman of the PNGBC under the late Bill Skate by funding the road with K50 million, therefore, it was right for him to complete the highway as a prime minister now

On the next leg of his journey to Kikori station, O’Neill told the people that he would negotiate with the developer of the PNG oil pipeline and gas pipeline to have the existing Kutubu to Kikori (Kopi) road declared a National Highway so that the road would also connect Hela and the Southern Highlands.

“These roads will become an important infrastructure which will connect to the Piam Port when developed to transport cargoes to the Highlands.

“This will also reduce the cost of goods and service for the people because of the distance while the people would be able to also drive from Kikori to Lae when connected,” he said.

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[Palm]

Related story in PNGIndustry News also states "Interoil's" Gulf LNG project logistics support the need for the Piam International Port on the coast of Gulf province.

"Infrastructure development
Monday, 4 March 2013

INFRASTRUCTURE news is flowing with PNG Forest Products completing a redeveloped hydroelectric power plant in Morobe province while Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has committed to port and road projects during his tour of Gulf province.



Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo by Michael Cairnduff.

PNGFP’s project to develop the existing Upper Baiune Hydropower Station dates back to 2006 and the new 9.4 megawatt capacity was commissioned late last year.

According to The National the redeveloped plant, which was renamed as Katu Vavini Power Station to commemorate the principal landowner who died in December, was officially opened by Forests Minister Patrick Pruaitch in Bulolo on Saturday.

PNGFP managing director Tony Honey reportedly said UBHS was the oldest surviving power station since the Morobe gold rush days in the 1930s.

The part Westpac-funded, K100 million redevelopment is also the first private-led project to supply electricity to PNG Power, with the electricity specifically going to its Ramu grid.

In separate news, O’Neill committed to developing the proposed Piam International Port on the coast of Gulf province.

He reportedly said no engineering or design work was done but the port could potentially support the logistical needs of InterOil’s Gulf LNG project, the PNG LNG project and oil fields in its area, the Porgera gold mine and nearby Mt Kare project, logging interests and the cash crop businesses in Highlands regions.

The PM also reportedly committed to completing the Gulf Southern Highlands Highway and declared plans to link up the existing Kutubu-Kikori road to Hela and Southern Highlands provinces to form a new highway.

“These roads will become an important infrastructure that will connect to the Piam Port when developed to transport cargoes to the Highlands,” O’Neill said according to The National.

“This will also reduce the cost of goods and service for the people because of the distance while the people would be able to also drive from Kikori to Lae when connected.”
http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=795158462§ionsource=s0

[Tusker]

Related story in PNGIndustry News also states "Interoil's" Gulf LNG project logistics support the need for the Piam International Port on the coast of Gulf province. "Infrastructure development Monday, 4 March 2013 INFRASTRUCTURE news is flowing with PNG Forest Products completing a redeveloped hydroelectric power plant in Morobe province while Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has committed to port and road projects during his tour of Gulf province. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Photo by Michael Cairnduff. PNGFP’s project to develop the existing Upper Baiune Hydropower Station dates back to 2006 and the new 9.4 megawatt capacity was commissioned late last year. According to The National the redeveloped plant, which was renamed as Katu Vavini Power Station to commemorate the principal landowner who died in December, was officially opened by Forests Minister Patrick Pruaitch in Bulolo on Saturday. PNGFP managing director Tony Honey reportedly said UBHS was the oldest surviving power station since the Morobe gold rush days in the 1930s. The part Westpac-funded, K100 million redevelopment is also the first private-led project to supply electricity to PNG Power, with the electricity specifically going to its Ramu grid. In separate news, O’Neill committed to developing the proposed Piam International Port on the coast of Gulf province. He reportedly said no engineering or design work was done but the port could potentially support the logistical needs of InterOil’s Gulf LNG project, the PNG LNG project and oil fields in its area, the Porgera gold mine and nearby Mt Kare project, logging interests and the cash crop businesses in Highlands regions. The PM also reportedly committed to completing the Gulf Southern Highlands Highway and declared plans to link up the existing Kutubu-Kikori road to Hela and Southern Highlands provinces to form a new highway. “These roads will become an important infrastructure that will connect to the Piam Port when developed to transport cargoes to the Highlands,” O’Neill said according to The National. “This will also reduce the cost of goods and service for the people because of the distance while the people would be able to also drive from Kikori to Lae when connected.” http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=795158462§ionsource=s0

... wings over our shoulders.  Roads beneth our feet.  Cheaques for the implementation.  Sounds like the winds of develpment are blowing into our sails and on our backs.

Cheers BOB's

Tusker