Komo Margarima MP Francis Potape

By ANDREW ALPHONSE



IT is evident that the much anticipated multi-billion kina PNG LNG project would not be able to deliver the benefits as expected to the landowners in the Hela and Southern Highlands provinces, according to outspoken Komo Margarima MP Francis Potape.
Mr Potape said this when visiting the project sites and the electorate during the 37th PNG independence anniversary weekend.
Mr Potape's electorate hosts bulk of the upstream segment of hydro carbon projects in the LNG project like Moran Central, North West Moran, Angore, Hides PDL 1, Hides PDL 7, Juha plus the facility areas like Beneria LNG pipeline routes, Komo international LNG airport, Hides LNG conditioning plant site and Yuni LNG Technical College among others.
Mr Potape said before the PNG LNG project was pursued by the State and developer ExxonMobil , there were many promises of improved infrastructures like better sealed roads, development of townships like Margarima, Komo, Hulia, Tari, Nipa, Lake Kopiago, Mendi, Ialibu, Kutubu, Pangia, Erave, Kagua together with growth centers like Para, Nogoli, Hides, Angore,Juha and others.
He said people and landowners expected the LNG project to bring with it the better basic infrastructures and benefits for all like the rehabilitation of the Highlands Highway from Lae all the way to Lake Kopiago. He said with the engineering, constructions and procurement (ECP) stages of the LNG project now nearing completion and the first LNG shipment likely to be exported in 2014, frustration is building amongst landowners.