A LANDOWNER group is asking the government through the Kumul Consolidate Holdings Limited (KCHL) to have close consultation with the landowners to develop Ramu 2 Hydro Electricity project.
In a recently concluded Ramu 2 Stakeholder Engagement & Development Forum, the Arona Valley Development Authority Incorporation (AVDA) in Eastern Highlands province is calling on the government to stop the negotiations and inclusion of many clans and land groups that are not directly associated with the development of Ramu 2 Hydro Electricity.
They revealed in a statement the Ramu 2 Hydro Project will directly affect only two landowner associations out of the 10 village associations of Arona Valley and there is no change to that. This includes water inlet and outlet, weir, surge chamber to penstock and power generation, site access and lay down and workers accommodation area for the project.
“The Ramu 2 Hydro Electricity project is not a new area that would require complicated studies and negotiations.
“There are already necessary findings and survey done into the project area and the socio- economic assessment along with the cultural heritage impact study was completed and approved by the Minister for Environment and Conservation.
“Also a hydro survey was conducted in 1950’s in Obura-Wonenara, Kainantu district of Eastern Highlands province and in 1964 the Electricity Commission Act was passed to regulate the generation and distribution of electricity.
“Also there was a flexibility study carried out and the State had already identified the customary and the alienated land required for Ramu2 Hydro Electricity Scheme in 1968. This provides sufficient and detailed reports in place from 1950-2020 including numerous National Executive Council decisions for the project to go ahead. This includes socio-economic development packages and the organic law on benefit sharing and equity, royalty and development in project impacted areas. The government including Department of Works and Physical Planning, PNG Power Limited, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited and the Eastern Highlands provincial government are aware of this,” the landowners said.
However, AVDA has requested the government to work with the people at the project impacted areas and consider the following terms:
- AVDA want the government to facilitate pre-project trainings and preference in employment construction. They want better training and fair employment for the people in the impacted areas with development of business opportunities for the people.
- AVDA also want the government to immediately withdraw the advertisement by China Power regarding the project and facilitate a public forum to inform the people of Ramu 1 and 2 in Eastern Highlands and Morobe about issues regarding the project and engage relevant stake holders and funds to facilitate and proceed with the project.