According to a report in PNG paper the National, the landowning group have demanded to meet with Oil Search manager director Peter Botten and PNG petroleum and energy minister Sir Moi Avei within 48 hours.
If their demands are not met they have threatened to shut down operations at Gobe Main and SE Gobe, both operated by Oil Search. Yesterday 26 police were airlifted to the site but so far no damage has been reported.
Oil Search holds a 76.7% stake in Gobe Main and 52.89% in SE Gobe. Other partners involved in the project include ExxonMobil, Santos and Cue Energy.
Along with the Kutubu oilfields, the Gobe Oilfields, located just 85km away, are expected to provide the major portion of gas for the $A4 billion PNG gas project due for sanction later this year.
Oil Search managing director Peter Botten is annual leave and PNGIndustryNews.net was unable to contact Oil Search general manager Gerea Aopi in Port Moresby.
According to the National, landowners have claimed they were ignored in the awarding of drilling contracts for “spin-off activities” from the project. A letter from the landowners outlining their grievances was reportedly sent to Oil Search management on January 13.
A source told the paper they the landowners have also demanded a review of the Gobe Memorandum of Agreement, which they said was overdue by five years.
