KUTUBU PDL2 LANDOWNERS WITHDRAW 14 DAYS ULTIMATUM

CHAIRMAN of Nama Aporo Landowners Association and Chairman of Petroleum Resources Kutubu (PRK) John Kapi Natto has agreed with Foe Association Chairman and PRK Director Johnny Yawari to withdraw the 14-Day Ultimatum which they gave for the government address their issue on the Ministerial Determination done by then Petroleum Minister Kerenga Kua in 2022 which affects the benefit sharing structure of the Kutubu landowners.

On Thursday this week, the landowners met with current Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina where two resolution was agreed upon which, Landowners to register their Incorporate Land Groups and for Minister Maladina to seek legal interpretation on the Ministerial Determination in Court.

“We agree to withdraw the petition, and appreciates Minister Maladina and the State for a timely response in addressing this very significant issue for our people, as we work towards revalidating our existing ILGs in Kutubu,” said Kapi Natto.

Both leaders assured the State that Kutubu PDL2 Project will progress with normalcy without interruptions as speculated on media by the contending party.

Petroleum Minister Maladina thanked the Foe Association for addressing the issue in a civilised manner and good leadership.

Meantime, PRK Director and Foe Association Chairman Johnny Yawari condemned the Department of Petroleum, with its executives who manages affairs of landowners for instigating chaos amongst the proprietors of Kutubu PDL2 Project in Southern Highlands Province, through the Ministerial Determination in 2022.

Yawari called on the Department of Petroleum to clarify and explain to leaders, beneficiaries and landowners about the individuals who agreed on the Ministerial Determination without their consent as representative heads of the duly recognized landowner associations, which are principal signatories to both 1990 Kutubu Agreement and the 1996 Kutubu review Agreement.

“This ill-advised exploit by the Department of Petroleum has caused disunity and in-house conflicts amongst us leaders and the ethnic beneficiaries back in the Kutubu project site.”

He exclaimed that the ministerial determination was unnecessary, as landowners only share 30% of this fund while the Southern Highlands Provincial Government has been receiving 70% since the project started.

Mr. Yawari highlighted during the press conference that Kutubu was the first petroleum resource project that started in the 1990s after Sandline Crisis in Bouganville and has supported Papua New Guinea for almost thirty (30) years.

He further stated that the people of Foe and Fasu in Kutubu have been benefiting from this project through royalties and equities for decades without disputes, differences and disharmony amongst the beneficiary groups.

“135 Incorporated Land Groups (ILGs) from Foe and 117 ILGs from Fasu were initially recognised to benefits from the royalties and equities as per the Kutubu Oil Agreement in 1990 and 1996 by then Prime Ministers Sir. Rabbie Namaliu and Sir. Julius Chan respectively.

However, the Chairman Yawari clarified that the royalty and equities of beneficiaries have accumulated in the last four (4) years with MRDC, which left the Kutubu Landowners badly affected, due to ill-conceived acts by selfish individuals within the Department of Petroleum and rivalry landowner parties.

Yawari then alluded that misguided interferences by the Department of Petroleum remains the cause of this issue, but the landowners look forward to a much fair and considerate outcome from the judiciary, as Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina seeks legal directions on this matter.

The Chairman then concluded by supporting Kapi Natto’s call and looks forward to a fair verdict from the courts as they embark on revalidating the existing Incorporated Land Groups in Kutubu as instructed by the Petroleum Minister.