Kavo may be getting brushed aside. Other Gulf MPs agrre with State and Total plan.
Source: The National, Monday August 3rd, 2015
By MALUM NALU
GULF leaders have put their political differences aside and agreed to support the Government in the development of the multi-billion kina Papua LNG project. The breakthrough came yesterday at a meeting organised by the National Petroleum Company of PNG in Port Moresby. Jailed Gulf Governor Havila Kavo sat beside his political rivals Kikori MP Mark Maipakai and Kerema MP Richard Mendani during presentations on the project. They surprised many by even talking to each other. Kavo, Maipakai, and Mendani have been in the news recently with their differences over the project. In attendance at the meeting were former Gulf governors, premiers and MPs, who stressed the importance of working together if the project was to progress successfully. Petroleum and Energy Minister Nixon Duban, NPCP managing director Wapu Sonk, Mineral Resources Development Corporation managing director Augustine Mano and Petroleum and Energy department secretary Rendle Rimua welcomed the meeting.
At the meeting, former Gulf Governor Riddler Kimave called all the leaders to the front, where on behalf of the Gulf people, pledged their commitment to working with the Government to make the project successful. He told Duban: “Tell the Prime Minister and the Government that we are standing together for the people of Gulf province. “We are all standing together. Let’s get the business moving.” Duban, the Madang MP, said he came from a resource-rich area and understood the thinking of the Gulf people. “I am very much with the grievances that have been expressed,” he said. “As a Papua New Guinean, we need a bit of paradigm shift. I’m fully, in heart and soul, in line with your thoughts, and we in government must play the middle ground.” The landowners have been opposed to the plan to pipe the gas to Port Moresby. They want it shipped overseas from a port in Gulf. Duban said he and Sonk had made some interventions including a review of the Oil and Gas Act. “There is a proposed new way forward that will come about very soon,” he said. “That report has not yet been endorsed by the NEC.” Duban urged Gulf leaders to work with the Government. “Allow us to lead the way, give us your advice, work with us,” he said. “We will ensure that all these issues are given proper consideration. And as we move along, please feel free to give advice and support so that at the end of the day, we achieve what is best for the people of Gulf and Papua New Guinea.” Rimua said yesterday’s meeting “was a very good start” to get the project rolling. Sonk said the meeting was organised to allow various factions to express their views. “They’ve expressed their views and they’ve documented their views. So the Government will take that on and look at how to put it together when it comes to negotiations with the developer Total.”
