LOs Welcome Nuau

Hides PDL 7 landowners have welcomed the appointment of Lohial Nuau as new Acting Secretary for the Department of Petroleum.

They also commended Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for removing former Acting Secretary Kepsy Puiye who has been at the centre of the conflict between PDL7 landowners and the department over their missing K15 million project security funds.

Chairman of Umbrella Hides PDL 7 Association Chairman Erick Hawai Ako described Mr Nuau’s appointment as a major step towards ending their long-standing conflict.

“We, the principal landowners of PDL7, are much relieved by PM O’Neill’s decision to remove Kepsy Puiye and appoint Lohial Nuau as new Acting Secretary for Petroleum,” Mr Ako said from Hides yesterday.

“We are confident Mr Nuau will rebuild the department, which has lost direction, respect and credibility as the lead government agency responsible for oil and gas development in PNG.

“We also urge Mr Nuau to remove corrupt officers who have conspired with illegal landowners and their cohorts to benefit from our resource benefits and entitlements.

“The 10,000 plus landowners of PDL7 are eager to end our battle with the Petroleum Department and are confident Mr Nuau will begin the peace process by fulfilling the department’s commitment to pay K6.5m for our legal and other bills, which were incurred while trying to protect and recover our K15m project security funds.

“Although justice has been served with Mr Puiye’s removal, our K15m remain unaccounted for and we urge Mr Nuau to demand immediate acquittals of the funds from the Hides PDL7 LLG Special Purpose Authority. This fake authority misused our funds and must account for every kina spent.”

Mr Ako stressed that PDL7 landowners will support a transparent and corruption-free Petroleum Department, which serves the interests of all genuine landowners in Hides and Hela.

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