23 May 2018

PNG's struggle to identify legitimate LNG project landowners

From , 5:03 am on 23 May 2018

The Papua New Guinea Institute of National Affairs says ultimate responsibility over who gets royalty payments from resource projects rests with the government.

Many of the landowners in the areas affected by the enormous ExxonMobil liquefied natural gas project are yet to receive any royalties, four years after the plant went into operation.

The companies involved and members of the government have been trading barbs about who is responsible for the failure, which is fostering tensions in several provinces.

The INA's executive director, Paul Barker, says while the developer is obliged to do social mapping to identify the right landowners before the project starts, it is up to the government to complete this process.

Exxon Mobil PNG's LNG plant near Port Moresby

Exxon Mobil PNG's LNG plant near Port Moresby Photo: (C)2014 {Richard Dellman/AdvantagePNG}, all rights reserved