Gulf LO group says social mapping not complete

[Palm]

But IOC resonds sharply. It was done properly and submitted to DPE who accepted it and if students were used, it was only in the field work. Our new relations guy at work?

Row on Gulf social mapping

Source:

The National, Friday July 19th, 2013

 A LOCAL association in Gulf has expressed concern that a thorough social mapping for the Gulf LNG has not been completed.

Evavo Landowners Association chairman Ohaka Hoko says Inter Oil has not completed social mapping to identify the legitimate landowners in the development of Petroleum Retention Licence 15 (PRL 15).

“Social mapping should be completed thoroughly before the project kick-starts, Hoko said.

“The University of Papua New Guinea student anthropologists were engaged by InterOil to do the job but failed to complete it.”

Hoko said InterOil’s decision to engage ExxonMobile to develop the Gulf LNG project “was not a good idea”.

“However, as long as all processes (upstream, mid-stream and downstream) are done in Gulf and not in Central … ExxonMobil can operate,” he added.

InterOil refuted Hoko’s statement, saying: “All social mapping and land investigation studies were completed.

“The results and all reports were conveyed to the Department of Petroleum and Energy.

“The people responsible for the exercise were professionally competent and if university students were involved in the exercise, they would have been involved as field assistants only.”

Duma has acknowledged what IOC says publicly a while back. This work has been done for some time now. Next!

[ArtM72]

You want an answer to this problem? Subject EVERYONE in the Gulf Province (or a representative sampling) to DNA testing and find out who the major related populations are. Relative newcomers don't have local DNA so they lose. People whose families have been interbreeding with regional families share many genes hence have an imprint that no one can screw around with.

Too high tech? Maybe. But bottom line it finds the truth. Doesn't solve the politics because likely most people there can't spell DNA but if people "own" where they've lived for generations then yes, modern science has a way of finding out what that is.

Anyone from PNG reading this?

[Palm]

It's actually a pretty organized process that is gone through. The fact that Duma has said it has been done properly says a lot. He is the one who has final say and in the end a representative group from the project area signs off on it before it goes to DPE. The problems come when some LOs realize they are not in the project area and they want what may not be theirs. Here's the process that must be gone through before DPE says it is done:

"How does the model work in practise?
A typical WAC exercise might proceed in the following manner.
Prior to entering a tenement for the first time a preliminary social mapping study is carried out. The study is prepared well in advance of the first Mining Warden’s Hearing in the case of the Mining Act and well before entry onto a tenement in the case of the Oil and Gas Act.

The study is broad ranging with a multidisciplinary bias. Apart from issues related to culture and land the study also considers logistical matters, including available infrastructure and its condition. The study is written in plain English so that it is intelligible to landowners.
A preliminary social mapping study is not an expensive exercise. Most studies can be carried out as desktop exercises combined with one or two short field trips. A myriad of data is now available on the internet and primary research is seldom required.
There are very few areas in Papua New Guinea where cultural and social data are not already available. In most cases a short field trip will reveal whether traditional societies are holding up or whether they have undergone social change or even broken down.
The social mapping report can also utilised for cultural awareness training, particularly where expatriate employees are involved. The lack of cultural awareness among company employees is a significant factor in the breakdown of relations with landholders.
Armed with the study the next step is a meeting with the local community. As most exploration programs begin with the establishment of a base camp in the area of most prospectivity the community around that area is the best starting point. Care should be taken to involve representatives from the provincial and local level governments at this point.
At the initial meeting the project is explained, the preliminary social mapping study presented and an interim survey group elected and established with appropriate retainers.
The logic of providing a copy of the preliminary social mapping study to the community is to demonstrate that you are genuinely concerned about landholder issues and also have an understanding of the people and their customs.
Studies with lots of old and new photographs are particularly well received. You should also be prepared to accept corrections and advice from the community about the report. Sometimes early anthropological work is flawed.
The survey group is then used to help draft a compensation agreement as required under the law. Statistics and information from the social mapping study can be used to help gauge and determine appropriate rates for the particular area.
The survey group then assists with the location of the base camp and any other infrastructure required. The details of this process along with any other useful cultural, land tenure and social organisation information collected are then written up in a report. Copies of the report go to the survey group for checking.
They may or may not take this report to their community and/or the relevant ILG(s) for ratification. Once this is done the survey group signs off on the report. Signing off is a simple declaration with signatures attesting to the accuracy of the report. The report is then added to the social mapping data base.
A good, on-ground community liaison officer can generally move this process along in good time.
As exploration work progresses and moves around it may be necessary to set up additional survey groups. In most cases the groups, like the ILGs, will be clan-based.
It is a good idea to use Papua New Guinean employees wherever possible. The supervision and conduct of WAC surveys and the preparation of reports do not necessarily require the use of professionals but it does require specialised community liaison personnel. These people may need training for the purpose.
A similar process then follows for other ground disturbing or social-impacting work. Details of a new seismic line or a new drill site, for example, are made available to the survey group in plenty of time for them to consider whether a Work Area Clearance survey is required and, if so, who, apart from themselves, are to be involved in it.
WAC surveys are formally scheduled and advertised to take place at a set time. People outside the group co-opted onto the survey, such as men and women with specialist knowledge, are paid a one-off fee and are signatories to the subsequent report.
Occasionally bystanders or interested individuals may come along on surveys. These people are not discouraged but it is made clear to them that only the survey group has the power to make decisions.
The WAC process then continues as a series of surveys until the project reaches the production stage or the exploration program is discontinued or abandoned. For a prospective program there is no reason why major infrastructure, such as a mine site, cannot be handled in the same way, albeit on a larger scale, and run parallel with any other studies or impact statements required under other legislation.
The whole process is relatively simple and relies on good preparatory groundwork, good communications, good public relations skills, diligent data collection, effective reporting and, above all, patience."

[Palm]

Also, as far as the "demand" that all processing take place in Gulf, they really have no say in this. Again, if the did, PNG LNG would have been done differently. There is a good new interview with Polye on EMTV and e explains that the National govt determines what is best for the country because revenues must come into the Treasury for use in provinces as they are ready. Gulf is highly undeveloped and will take a lot of time. The Highlands, Central, Lae and others are much further along and need more infrastructure much sooner than Gulf. Polye explains all of this very well toward the end where he details ho funding and autonomy will be doled out to provinces as they are ready.

He also mentions the "Interoil" project and the importance of getting it developed and producing in the "medium term" due to the needs of the Treasury. He mentions that Duma has done a very good job in demanding that the requirements of the PA must be met and that they have lost 3 years on the project. He states that the deals likely will come very soon as the govt wants to get things moving. Obviously production ASAP is the government's goal. Guess they would be very much in favor of being sure future trains for PNG LNG happen with certainty and quickly.

http://www.emtv.com.pg/component/zoo/ite...episode-77

[ArtM72]

It's actually a pretty organized process that is gone through. The fact that Duma has said it has been done properly says a lot. ...

...The whole process is relatively simple and relies on good preparatory groundwork, good communications, good public relations skills, diligent data collection, effective reporting and, above all, patience."

It is sort of ironic.  I'm sitting at home watching "The Queen", about Elizabeth's and Blair's relationship during the time of the death of Princess Diana.  The Royal family completely out of touch.  The PNG process of determining rightful owner ship as described is just so, just so "British".   Make a brief desktop survey and present it to the heathens for their approval. It is without doubt a procedure passed down by the Brits when PNG was simply another backward colony like India.  About the only update is to observe the ease with which the history of tribal customs and boundarys can be found on the internet.  A bit distant from reality I fear.

A serious problem?  I doubt it.  The Gulf is blessed by low population density and I really think IOC has been trying to do the right thing for years.

Cherio.

[Palm]

I agree; serious problem is unlikely. This s the same guy who piped up last November and seems a bit detached. As much as people say Duma hates IOC the fact is he confirmed that proper social mapping has been done and has been accepted by DPE. That takes the burden off of IOC at this point. Here's the article from last year. Likely with the 60 days at hand next week people are getting jumpy; a bit premature, but its understandable.


"Thursday 29th November 2012
Landowners demand share

By MELISSA MARTIN

THE LANDOWNERS of the Multi Billion Kina Elk-Antelope Gas project in Gulf Province want recognition as landowners and for the government to clarify how much equity is entitled to them from the project.
The Evavo landowners Association Chairman Ohaka Hoko told Post Courier they want the Government to clarify what benefits or share the landowners will receive before the project begins.
He said that according to reports, the National Government and the developer InterOil Limited will share 50 percent equity each from the project.
“We want to know now before the project begins because we are not aware of how much the government will offer to us as landowners.
“As landowners, this is our birthright to have access to our land and whatever is inside and on the land,” he said.
Mr Hoko said the landowners demanded 20 percent equity from the government while the project developer InterOil must also offer some percentage of its share to the Gulf Provincial Government.
“The project itself will certainly bring development services into the community and the province as a whole that has been lacking for some time.
“It will also bring in more economic benefits and more employment opportunities to our people,” Mr Hoko said.
He also stated that the Government must consult the land owners and assist in registering their Incorporated Land Groups (ILG) because most of their ILGs are incomplete and there is also no proper social mapping.
The Foreign Investment Development (FID) agreement will be signed by the government and InterOil next year.
They also want the two parties to come forward and explain both the advantages and disadvantages to the landowners and the people of Gulf and what the project is going to bring to them.
Mr Hoko further stressed that Environmental issues, economical and developmental benefits for the people must be made known to them because most people are not yet aware of it."