By Jack Lapauve Jr – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Petroleum and Energy Minister, Dr. Fabian Pok, says the Government is now moving to complete the clan vetting process along the pipeline segments for the oil and gas project in the PNG LNG Projects. Minister Pok and other stakeholders signed a ministerial determination on Wednesday (May 30) in Port Moresby to signify the process.
Dr. Pok says for future projects, clan vetting will be done prior to any initial discussions or negotiations for oil and gas projects. He says K3 million has been allocated to complete clan vetting in PDL1, 7 and the Angore fields. According to Minister Pok, all court proceedings that have stopped the clan vetting process have been withdrawn. He says once the process is complete for pipeline areas, the green fields will be next. Juha will also be considered as there was no social mapping. Out of the K3 million, K1 million will assist the ADR team led by Judge Kandakasi, while K1.2 million will go to support the vetting process by leaders.
Meanwhile, Minister Pok made a bold statement that clan vetting must be done before any negotiations of any oil and gas project. This will also be stipulated in the new Oil and Gas Act. Minister Pok was joined by Secretaries for Treasury, DPE and custodians of MRDC and Kumul Petroleum Holdings.
