O'Neill working on infrastructure for Gulf LNG

[Petrovale]

Paia Inlet plan to boost Gulf economy
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120628/thhome.htm

By KONOPA KANA

PAIA Inlet Infrastructure Development Company (PIIDC) Limited a subsidiary company to Gulf Provincial Economic Development Authority (GPEDA) that will host the development of the high impact priority infrastructure integrated Port and Industrial Centre Township in the Gulf LNG project.
The Gulf Provincial Government through the GPEDA will hold 85 per cent of the shareholding in PIIDC in trust for itself while the Hela Transitional Authority (HTA) holds a 14 per cent shareholding interest to the project.
PIIDC was established to enable Gulf Province, Southern Highlands and Hela Province to work together with all relevant government departments and state owned enterprise such as the PNG Ports Corporation, and the Industrial Centres Development Corporation. This project includea redevelopment of the Highlands Highways including Lae City roads, Gulf-Southern Highlands Highways, PAIA inlet seaport development in Kikori and the Mendi airport following the announcement of the K7 billion loan from the Export Import (EXIM) by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to finance of this high impact transport infrastructure projects in readiness for LNG gas shipment in 2014. PIIDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Emmanual Mai said that the company will start operating with K2 billion for the development of the industrial centre and township that will be powered by the multi-billion Purari Hydro Electricity project which will be located in the same area in the hinterlands of Baimuru some 90 kilometres from the Paia Inlet port. Mr Mai said that there will also be commercial and economic rationale support to enhance development of small, medium and large businesses in project impact areas of Kikori, Baimuru and Ihu Local Level Government (LLG) that will be greatly impacted by the development of the port and related infrastructures in Gulf province. He said PIIDC has established dialogue with the Transport Sector Public Private Partnership (PPP) transaction project office and they are very supportive of the project progress and are ready to work together.

[admin]

Nice find, things are moving forward

[ArtM72]

Kikori, Baimuru and Ihu pretty much track the gulf coastline adjacent to IOC's PRLs. Fait accompli? I do wonder about the need for a hydro plant at Haimuru with all the cheap gas available, but then I suppose anything they don't burn they can sell.

[Palm]

Another article in The National July 2 edition mentions this alliance being formed and specifically mentions Elk/Antelope:
"Source: 
The National, Monday July 2nd, 2012
THE host provinces to the two liquefied natural gas projects – Southern Highlands, Hela and Gulf – have formed a company to help with the development of multi-billion kina infrastructure crucial for the operation of the Gulf LNG train.
The Paia Inlet Infrastructure Development Company Ltd is expected to be an important developmental partner with the state.
A press statement said the company would enable the three provinces to develop a sea port, an industrial centre, a township and connecting roads to the Kopi LNG base camp, Kikori town, the US$7 billion (K14.81billion) Elk/Antelope gas fields and the multi-billion Purari
Hydro project, in Baimuru district, Gulf.
Described as ‘major high impact priority infrastructure projects’, a highway interconnecting the Gulf with the provinces of Southern Highlands and Hela is on the cards.
Collectively, these projects will be developed at a cost of K7 billion, which the national government had successfully secured as a loan from the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of China already.
But it is the Paia seaport project and Gulf-SHP highway that are considered of high importance.
“Simply put; the Gulf-SHP highway’s construction and success will be dependent on the construction and success of the Paia inlet seaport,” the statement said."
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/35041

[Justin94360]

Similar article in Pngindustry news with this quote

"But it reportedly aims to develop a highway that connects the PNG LNG project-related Kopi base camp in Hela province to the Kikori town and to the Elk-Antelope fields plus the Purari hydro project in Gulf province."

Very interesting given recent increased chatter about Exxon being favourite for the sell down/operator of Elk/Antelope.



Govt infrastructure reforms flagged
http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=8686377§ionsource=s0

IN WHAT appears to be a good sign for the InterOil-led Gulf LNG project, a state-owned company has reportedly been formed to develop a new port plus a Gulf to Southern Highlands Province highway, along with other infrastructure.

The Highlands Highway. Image courtesy of Mike Butler.

Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma recently threatened to terminate the PNG government project agreement for Gulf LNG after six months but Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has made several statements supporting the Gulf LNG project.

The outcome of the election, which is underway, should ultimately provide some clearer perspective on national government support for InterOil’s plans to commercialise its Elk-Antelope discoveries in Gulf province.

But a recent press statement indicates there may already be support for Gulf LNG on the provincial government level.

According to The National, the provincial governments for Southern Highlands, Gulf and newly formed Hela have formed a joint company to bring in more infrastructure development.

It is called Paia Inlet Infrastructure Development Company and it is not yet clear if it will benefit from the sovereign wealth fund designed to manage windfall PNG LNG revenues after 2014.

But it reportedly aims to develop a highway that connects the PNG LNG project-related Kopi base camp in Hela province to the Kikori town and to the Elk-Antelope fields plus the Purari hydro project in Gulf province.

The state-owned enterprise reportedly also aims to develop a sea port, an industrial centre and a township.

Development will reportedly cost at least 7 billion kina ($A3.2 billion) and the funding is expected to come from an Export Import (EXIM) Bank of China loan. Highlands Highway – which is very difficult and

The establishment of the Paia port was considered the first priority.

“Simply put; the Gulf-SHP highway’s construction and success will be dependent on the construction and success of the Paia inlet seaport,” the recent press statement said according to the PNG newspaper.

The sum of the EXIM loan is similar to the Chinese funding expected to upgrade the long troubled Highlands Highway – which is very difficult and expensive to maintain.

[Tree]

Blueprints are funny things.
If you don't lay yours down, someone else will.