Commissioning and testing at Hides Gas plant is another milestone reached by ExxonMobil

By Joe WASIA

The Papua New Guinea’s economy changing project, the PNG LNG, operator ExxonMobil has reached another milestone yesterday when it tapped on its turbine at Hide Gas Conditioning Plant for testing and commissioning of key facilities and equipment.

It marked another milestone after construction work at different sites of the project for more than 4 four years. The US$19 billion PNG LNG project is now more than 95% complete and remains on budget and on track to deliver its first cargoes in the second half of this year.
To the eyes of many, especially local communities, employees and contractors it may mean something less when they saw the flames at the plant site but it is an achievement and a milestone reached by the world’s energy giant, ExxonMobil.

The current gas flow is from Oil Search’s Kutubu Central Processing Facility (CPF) in Southern Highlands Province to HGCP in Hides. Kutubu gas project has been in operation for more than 20 years now. 

The project was initially constructed and operated by Chevron Niugini Limited in early 1990s and later PNG’s leading oil company, Oil Search Limited, took over more than 10 years ago. During the period of this gas project operation the companies extracted only oil.

Exxon Mobil Corporation’s subsidiary Esso Highlands Limited and Oil Search agreed to pipe the unused gas into PNG LNG plant in Hides. So it has two different pipes running from Oil Search’s Kutubu Central Progressing Facility to Exxon’s Hides Gas Conditioning plant in Hides Hela Province.

Dr Albert Schram allowed to return

After a three week boycott, students at the university of technology have won a small but significant victory.

The Justice Minister, Kerenga Kua, has given an undertaking that he and other government ministers will facilitate the return of Dr. Albert Schram to Papua New Guinea. "If you are in contact with Dr. Schram, please tell him to loge an application for a visa at the nearest PNG consulate."

Mr. Kua, has also directed government lawyers to remain in Lae this weekend to prepare documents to set aside a court order preventing Dr. Schram from returning as Unitech Vice Chancellor.

The compromise was reached after a four hour meeting between students and five ministers including Higher education Minister Delilah Gore, Police Minister, Robert Atiyafa and Trade Minister, Richard Maru.

The Higher education Minister will also table the Sevua investigation at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and will travel with the same delegation to Lae on Thursday to make the announcement.

Meanwhile, classes will remain suspended until Dr. Schram's return is finalized.

'I accept my sacking' ousted Treasury Minister Don Polye says

Don Polye, MP

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
Post Courier, 12th March, 2014  

SACKED Treasury Minister Don Polye has made it clear that THE Party will continue to maintain the coalition government solidarity.

Mr Polye, flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion, went to the Prime Minister's office in Parliament to present THE Party parliamentary wing resolution after their caucus meeting on Monday night.

The meeting followed the Prime Minister's sacking of Mr Polye and his Southern region deputy leader Mark Maipakai.

Mr Polye called a media conference with party members including Mr Dion, Mr Maipakai, Mendi MP De Kevanu, Lagaip-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape and Chuave MP Wera Mori to state that it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister to commission and decommission ministers, which his Party respects.

Activist says signing of K3 billion loan by Prime Minister Peter O'Niel was rushed

By Melissa MARTIN
March 21,2014, 08:26 am-Post Courier.

The signing of the $A1.239 (K3 billion) loan to acquire 10.1 per cent shares in Oil Search is illegal, says the Peoples Power Movement activist Noel Anjo.

The activist, in an interview yesterday, said the signing of the loan by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was illegal and a rushed decision. 

Mr Anjo alleged that the Prime Minister did not get the approval from the National Executive Council, in breach of Section 209 of the Constitution and also breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.


"The Prime Minister also went against the State Solicitor’s advice therefore investigations need to be carried out and I am calling on the O’Neill-Dion Government to review its decision.

"The document was signed not long after dismissing the former Treasurer Don Polye from office, it was done within 24 hours, why was there a rush? "Why did he rush to sign the loan, is it an emergency case or are we in a war? Rushing to sign a very important deed raises a lot of questions," he added.

Wapenamanda District Administrator Anderson Piuk passes on in a nasty car accident

Late Anderson Piuk, 
Wapenamanda District Administrator

By Joe WASIA

Wapenamanda District Administrator Anderson Piuk died in a nasty car accident in Chuave District of Simbu Proince last night, 19th March 2014, with two others believed to be his relatives. Names of the other 2 died in the accident are not known.

Mr Piuk was appointed as district administrator last year and he has been working tirelessly under Rimbink Pato Administraion until his passing. 

He is son of a very prominent leader and a Pastor Piuk Lasala from Laiagam District of Enga Enga Province who accepted Christian Apostolic Fellowship (CAF) into Papua New Guinea back in the 1980s. Mr Piuk Lasala was the President of the church since CAF's first establishment in Enga's Laiagam District until 2011 when he resigned.

Anderson was brought up in a faithful christian family. He has participate faithfully in all church organised activities within the church and other denominational groups in the province. He was one of the executives members of Enga Tertiary Student Fellowship (TSCF) group when was he a manager of the Enga Vegetable Marketing around mid 2000.

I'm not sure where he was working before being appointed Wapenamanda District Administrator. But hope he was holding a managerial or a key position before being appointed DA for the district last year.

PNG sacked Treasurer Don Polye explained why he refused to sign K3b loan deal

By Issac Nicholas
Post-Courier,  20th March 2014

Hon Don Polye, MP

FORMER Treasury Minister Don Polye has finally broken his silence on why he refused to sign loan instruments of AUS$ 1.239 (K3 billion) loan to acquire 10.1 percent share in Oil Search.

The Kandep MP said with the best business and commerce knowledge he had, his view was that the commercial viability of the purchase of Oil Search Ltd shares at $A8.20 is a bad decision.

He said even if it is claimed to be a good investment there remains no credible information to substantiate the argument as no due diligence was done on the business transaction.

Mr Polye also called on Attorney-General Kerenga Kua to say whether he gave advice to the Government leading up to "various breaches of the laws" to secure the $A1.22 billion loan.

"We have to borrow money if we do in such amounts have got to be spent on tangible benefits to the people of this nation, but not on some speculative markets like buying shares.

"When I looked into this I as former treasurer, I simply could not sign a loan when I knew that those were the dynamics within which this loan will not be supported by any balance sheets, whether it be by SOEs (State-owned enterprises) or even by the State," he said.

Prime Minister O'neill reveals reason over Polye's removal as Treasurer

By Joy Kisselpar -PNG Edge

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has admitted that Don Polye was removed as the Treasury Minister because he refused to accept the decision by the National Executive Council to borrow $ US 1.2 billion from the Swiss financial institution, UBS.

Peter O'Neil, The Prime Minister of PNG

He says the decision by the NEC is final and was based on independent official advice from all government officials and that could not be undermined by a prime minister, any minister or official.

Mr O’Neill also clarified that Mr Polye could no longer hold the position as chairman of the IMF and World Bank.

He said that position was given to Papua New Guinea and not to any one person and that the new treasury minister would take over the position.

Meanwhile Mr O’Neill says a cabinet reshuffle will be done for the best interest of the country.

“As I said in the recent past we’re not running a theme park where people go to have fun, we run a serious business, our first priority is stability, stability of government and stability of policies and any changes we make must enhance that. I think it is important for the country to have stability,” says the Prime Minister.

He said that he held a meeting with both Don Polye and William Duma and told them frankly the PNC party would honor the Alotau Accord and that is THE party is entitled to have four ministries.

“Whoever I give the ministries to is my prerogative. The law of Papua New Guinea gives me that and it will be based on performance, government stability and conduct of ministers.

I will exercise it with due care and with a highest degree of responsibility so that it continues to build stability within the government,” says O’Neill.

The real reasons why Papua New Guinea's Energy Minister William Duma and Treasurer Don Polye were sacked

By Joy Kisselpar -PNG Edge

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has admitted that Don Polye was removed as the Treasury Minister because he refused to accept the decision by the National Executive Council to borrow $ US 1.2 billion from the Swiss financial institution, UBS.

Peter O'Neil, The Prime Minister of PNG

He says the decision by the NEC is final and was based on independent official advice from all government officials and that could not be undermined by a prime minister, any minister or official.

Mr O’Neill also clarified that Mr Polye could no longer hold the position as chairman of the IMF and World Bank.

He said that position was given to Papua New Guinea and not to any one person and that the new treasury minister would take over the position.

Meanwhile Mr O’Neill says a cabinet reshuffle will be done for the best interest of the country.

“As I said in the recent past we’re not running a theme park where people go to have fun, we run a serious business, our first priority is stability, stability of government and stability of policies and any changes we make must enhance that. I think it is important for the country to have stability,” says the Prime Minister.

He said that he held a meeting with both Don Polye and William Duma and told them frankly the PNC party would honor the Alotau Accord and that is THE party is entitled to have four ministries.

“Whoever I give the ministries to is my prerogative. The law of Papua New Guinea gives me that and it will be based on performance, government stability and conduct of ministers.

I will exercise it with due care and with a highest degree of responsibility so that it continues to build stability within the government,” says O’Neill.

Noel Anjo: Its time to take affirmative action to challenge corruption head on at a Public Forum

By Sonja Barry Romai
THE VOICE OF PNG, Facebook Page

Leading anti-corruption activist, Noel Anjo Kolao (inserted) has advised that a public forum will be held this Thursday, March 20th, at Jack Pidik park from 10 am - 2 pm.

Activist Noel Anjo

"Don Polye is invited to explain and reveal to the nation why he refused to sign the loan and PM sacked him. PM in a news conference yesterday defended his decision to sack Polye and said the loan is the best deal. Polye will reveal the truth because PM is misleading the public", Noel Anjo Kolao asserted.

Should the sacked Treasurer take up the challenge to appear in person at Jack Pidik park on Thursday to publicly reveal the truth to the people of Papua New Guinea who are now faced with a massive National debt to repay, although the Prime Minister has since publicly stated, "The argument that it increases our debt level is simply nonsense"?

Should the sacked Treasurer in all good conscience continue to remain a part of a coalition Government - particularly if he knew that the massive K3 billion (up to Aud1.239 billion) loan deal to buy 149, 390, 244 Oil Search shares is unconstitutional and that is why he refused to sign the loan and was sacked?

US$239m loan for roads, air services in Papua New Guinea

The National, Wednesday February 26th, 2014

Treasury Minister Don Polye and ADB country director Marcelo Minc signed the agreements yesterday in Port Moresby.

Treasurer Don Polye, MP

The second tranche of the Highlands Roads Improvement Programme will cost US$109 million. It will be carried out by the Works Department. The Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme (CADIP) costing US$130 million will be undertaken by the National Airports Corporation. 

“The road programme approved in 2008 is a US$750 million plan that aims to make transport more safe and accessible by connecting rural roads to main roads and making provision for public transport,” Minc said.

“Under the first tranche, 115km of roads are being rehabilitated between Laiagam-Porgera (65km) and Mendi-Kandep (50km) using four locally-owned construction firms employing more than 500 nationals and providing improved market access and income earning opportunities for the people of Enga and Southern Highlands.”