MINISTER MALADINA CLARIFIES VENUE FOR PAPUA LNG DEVELOPMENT FORUM

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

THE Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Jimmy Maladina, has clarified today that Papua LNG landowners who have been calling out and submitting petitions to change the venue of the Papua LNG Development Forum have been heard by the government.

Responding to the landowners’ concerns, Minister Maladina said while the opening of the Development Forum must, by law, take place in Kerema, arrangements have been approved to allow further consultations in other affected licence and segment areas.

The Minister stressed that the government must apply the law consistently to maintain investor confidence, adding that frequent changes to legislation would undermine developer certainty.

Minister Maladina confirmed that after the official opening in Kerema and the presentation of the Director’s proposal, separate forums can be held in locations identified by landowners, including Port Moresby.

He said the government acknowledges the landowners’ petitions and remains committed to inclusive consultations to ensure no community is left out of the Papua LNG project.