08-21-2013, 07:09 AM
Great post. THIS may be the major stumbling block IOC has run into, Kikori getting both the pipeline and the port, not Kerema.
I can see how this would be a major issue for Gulf Province. The question is just how many large ports can one small country afford on its south coast? With Kerema slated to be joined to POM in 2017 by the Trans-Island highway Gulf's status as a future major shipping hub may change to a place forgotten and at the end of the road for another couple of decades. Whoever owns the new port facilities at PM I suspect doesn't want to be competing with Kerema. Gulf Province's one "bargaining chip" at this time is E/A and an LNG plant there would require a port be placed in that location.
Another permutation of what might be going on is threatening Gulf with the E/A pipeline through to Kikori if they don't behave and accept their fate as a non port city at least for the time being.
Who knows? Maybe this current unfortunate delay in announcing the first selldown is due to the need to simultaneously announce at least a HOA for the first Gulf LNG unit to make Gulf Province a happy and cooperative partner. In any event this is not a good situation for IOC to be in the middle.
I can see how this would be a major issue for Gulf Province. The question is just how many large ports can one small country afford on its south coast? With Kerema slated to be joined to POM in 2017 by the Trans-Island highway Gulf's status as a future major shipping hub may change to a place forgotten and at the end of the road for another couple of decades. Whoever owns the new port facilities at PM I suspect doesn't want to be competing with Kerema. Gulf Province's one "bargaining chip" at this time is E/A and an LNG plant there would require a port be placed in that location.
Another permutation of what might be going on is threatening Gulf with the E/A pipeline through to Kikori if they don't behave and accept their fate as a non port city at least for the time being.
Who knows? Maybe this current unfortunate delay in announcing the first selldown is due to the need to simultaneously announce at least a HOA for the first Gulf LNG unit to make Gulf Province a happy and cooperative partner. In any event this is not a good situation for IOC to be in the middle.