Landowners representing the Petroleum Development License two (PDL 2) areas in Kutubu, Southern Highlanders Province and the Southeast Mananda of Hela Province have removed the 14 days ultimatum given to the Government through Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina yesterday at Airways after a peaceful discussion with the Minister.
The petition given to the Government through the petroleum minister was to address the issues affecting the rights and benefits of the people.
The three agenda they presented to the Government that needs to be address was:
- The petroleum minister to immediately make a ministerial determination Under Section 168A of the Gas and Oil Act 1998 to supersede the 3 Kerenga Kua Ministerial determinations affecting benefit sharing must be reviewed.
- The three Ministerial determinations had to be reviewed so the Landowners can participate to review the sharing structure transparently and fairly by the three major tribes from Kutubu PDL2 License area
- Appeal to government and Petroleum minister to ask the National Executive Council to revise the Kutubu Equity distribution whereby the Southern Highlands Provincial government receives 70% and landowners receive 30%, to be changed so the Landowners receive 80% and the Southern Highlands Government receive 20%.
However, after a very peaceful meeting with the petroleum minister Jimmy Maladina the landowners have all agreed and decided to remove the 14 days ultimatum.
They will now work with the Minister and support his call to proceed with filing a Supreme Court reference to seek legal direction on the implementation of the Ministerial Determination on impacted Petroleum Development License two (PDL 2) and to clarify whether the Kutubu beneficiaries are preserved under the Oil and Gas Act.
Chairman for Nama Aporo Association Inc. Mr. John Kapi Natto and Chairman for Foe Association Inc, Johnny Yawari signed the letter to formally remove the 14 ultimatum and handing it to Minister for Petroleum Jimmy Maladina.
Minister Maladina commends both leaders stating that he is happy with the civil actions taken by the landowner groups to formally remove the 14 days ultimatum.