By JOE GURINA
FOUR local land owner companies have signed major road projects worth over K68million with the Department of Works and Highways under the Exxon Mobil Tax Credit Scheme on Wednesday.
Department Secretary, David Wereh said, it was an ongoing funding under the Exxon Mobil Tax Credit Scheme, and was happy to see local contractor performance.
Four road projects will be constructed in Hela and one in Central province at a tune of K68, 294, 302.17.
Wereh said as part of the Government’s policy to build local content, the department has been working with local contractors at initial stages and is confident with the contractors to get the projects through.
He said the partnership with ExxonMobil goes back three years and is an ongoing partnership from the K368 million spent in the last three years.
He said 10, 000 jobs were created in the last three years and expects the number to double with massive employment for rural workforce and it was an indication of positive partnership approach.
Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirisim thanked ExxonMobil for giving the opportunity to local contractors through these funding and added it was one of Marape-Rosso government to build local capacity and create employment opportunities for rural workforce.
He said for provinces like Hela and Southern Highlands, gas and oil have been in existence but road was wasn’t in place.
“And it is under this government to give back to the people through road projects.
“Connect PNG is all about connecting people by road and here is a continuation of these projects,’’ he said.
A local contractor and Managing Director of HGDC, Libe Parindali also indicated that the partnership has seen an overwhelming indication of economic boost at the rural setting where his landowner company had contributed to rural workforce employment as well as sub-contracting opportunities.
Meanwhile, the three local landowner companies to do roads in Hela are, Hide Gas Development Company (HGDC) securing two contracts; from Piribu Junction to Halimbu junction (8.1km) Hela, at a tune of K4,274,334.04, Idauwi junction to Komo station on the Halimbu junction to Komo road, Hela at K6, 791,938.43.
Angore PDL 8 landowner company Urunawini Limited was awarded K42, 895,991. 70 to open up Piribu near tari Town to Angore near Komo to link Tari to Angore road, Hela.
Ipwenz Construction was awarded K6million to work on 32. 8km from Piribu junction to Ambua Top, Hela.
And in Central, contract of K8, 332, 038 was awarded to Tura Holdings Limited to do survey, geotechnical investigations and preliminary designs of the proposed 4 lane road from Baruni Junction to Lealea village and Napa Napa feeder roads.
ENDS///
Work will commence on five major road projects worth over K68.3 million funded under the Exxon Mobil Tax Credit Scheme.
We’ve been working with the locals at the initial stages to build those road sections up in Hela and Southern Highlands
Today we are happy to see five local companies sign projects worth K68 million
