THE first phase of the recommencement of landowner beneficiary identification (LOBID) within PNG LNG Project impact areas has been completed, Department of Petroleum and Energy spokesperson says.
The spokesperson said that the completed areas were for the pipeline segments starting from Kikori, in Gulf, to Beneria, in Hela.
Last November, Petroleum Minister Fabian Pok announced that the LOBID exercise had recommenced.
“Moran PDL 5 (petroleum development licence) was also completed while Gobe and Kutubu are subject to disputes settlement in court,” the spokesperson said.
“Department of Petroleum is preparing for final ministerial determination for Mineral Resources Development Company) to open up bank accounts for the respective impacted clans, so the royalty and equity benefits will be paid to those completed impacted beneficiaries.
“Meanwhile, clan-vetting will resume in February for Hides PDL1 and PDL 7.
Juha PDL 9 will be conducted in Koroba for Hela landowners and in Kiunga or Soabi for Western landowners.
Angore PDL 8 will be subject to alternative dispute resolution (ADR), resuming mediation process to identify the beneficiary clans.
The success of the first phase was dependent on local and provincial leaders and logistical support provided by ExxonMobil and Oil search. The clan-vetting team experienced no issues that may cause delays to the vetting.”
Pok said that following the successful completion of the distribution of royalty benefits in the plan site area last month, DPE had focused on resumption and completion of the landowner beneficiary identification – formerly known as clan-vetting programme) in other project areas.
“This is useful consultative process which enables me to then make an official ministerial determination under Sec 169 and Sec 170 of the Oil and Gas Act (1998) and allow the benefits to be distributed to the beneficiaries,” he said.