A prominent landowner representative has congratulated ExxonMobil following the successful full retirement of the PNG LNG project debt.

Mr. Martin Hora, Deputy Chairman and Public Officer of the Komo Airfield Landowners Association in Block 1787 of PDL 8, issued the remarks following Prime Minister James Marape’s recent announcement that the project had settled its bank-financed debt six months ahead of schedule.

With the debt now cleared, Mr. Hora is calling on the National Government, through the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) and the Department of Petroleum and Energy (DPE), to prioritize the opening of clan accounts.

He emphasized that many landowners have struggled for years to obtain Incorporated Land Group (ILG) certificates and titles at their own expense.

Since the initial stages of the project in 2009 up until 2026, these clans have worked consistently to meet state identification requirements despite significant administrative hurdles.

Furthermore, Mr. Hora pointed out that under Sections 47 and 63 of the Oil and Gas Act 1998, the developer typically holds the prerogative to undertake social mapping and landowner identification studies.

He noted that while these studies should assist communities in the project's proximity with ILG registration, many landowners were left to manage the process themselves.

Despite these setbacks and various challenges, he maintained that landowning groups have remained peaceful and have complied with all state requirements to finally register their groups.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Hora urged the MRDC and DPE to move forward by verifying clans on an individual basis.

He argued that the authorities should settle the accounts for those who have met all legal requirements rather than allowing the internal issues of one or two clans to delay the opening of accounts for everyone else.