Acting State Enterprise Minister, Charles Abel, says the Lae tidal basin must be utilised to create revenue for the country.
Abel says the Government’s intention is to have an international operator chosen by PNG Ports and Kumul Consolidated Holdings to do so.
He says the government will raise relevant questions as to why there are delays.
“We will raise the relevant questions to PNG Ports and Kumul Consolidation Holdings,” says Abel.
Yesterday, at the announcement of the new Kumul Telikom, the Planning Minister, acting on the state enterprise ministry said PNG Ports and Kumul Consolidated Holdings would have to find an international operator and fast.
“The government’s intention is to have a good international operation company utilise that port and generate international competitive container movement, rates and cartage clearance through that port,” says Abel.
When the Lae tidal basin was opened in 2014 by the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, all was set for the K700 million investment to make money for the country.
Part of that cost of building the infrastructure was a loan from the Asian Development Bank.
But, since the opening, the Lae tidal basin isn’t in operation.
The Lae tidal basin is the biggest port in the South Pacific, this was going to transform Papua New Guinea’s economy, as Lae becomes a shipping gateway in the South East Asia region. But, that still needs to happen two years on.
