By DALCY LULUA
CENTRAL Province Governor Rufina Peter has expressed disappointment over the manner in which the government and the developer have handled the Edevu hydro and water supply project.
She said the provincial government and people of Central Province will no longer tolerate being by-passed by developers and the government in major resource projects in the province.
“We will not be taken for granted nor will we continue to be spectators to resource developments on our land,” Peter said.
“We demand that our rights as resource landowners and custodians be acknowledged and respected.”
She expressed concern at the opening of the Edevu Hydro Power Project on April 21that the provincial government had not been involved in any way since its inception 14 years ago.
Peter said the National Government failed to undertake an environmental impact assessment and benefit sharing agreement for key stakeholders, including the landowners and Central.
She said key stakeholders had many years of experience from the Rouna Hydro Scheme, which commenced in the 1950s.
The Governor said it appeared the government had not taken into account the lessons learnt from the Rouna Hydro Scheme when working on the Edevu Hydro Power Project.
However, she commended Prime Minister James Marape for responding to the concerns she raised during a meeting following the opening.
Peter said the meeting between the Prime Minister, State-owned Enterprises Minister and Central parliamentary leaders agreed that:
- CEPA and National Energy Authority (NEA) would produce the environmental impact assessment and the technical soundness report of the dam; and,
- The Managing Director of Kumul Consolidated Holdings Limited (KCHL) and Central Provincial administrator would collaborate on a benefit-sharing agreement which would form the basis for negotiations among the key stakeholders.
“To this day (eight months later), I have not received any reports, including the report to inform me on the progress made in the drafting of the benefit-sharing agreement for Edevu Hydro Power,” she said.
“Last week, there was an advertisement in the two dailies by Water PNG Ltd, inviting expression of interests for a design-build-operate-transfer (DBOT) model for the development of the Edevu Water Treatment Plant and associated works.”
“I wish to inform the public, the government and Water PNG Ltd, that my office and is not aware of such a project.”
Peter said the Central provincial executive council demanded that:
- Water PNG Ltd withdraw and cancel the specific EOI for Edevu Water Supply DBOT Contract proposal;
- The Minister for the SOE responsible for WPNG Ltd, convene a meeting with the provincial executive council, the Hiri-Koiari Member of Parliament (MP), landowner representatives, the developer and other stakeholders to inform Central of the progress in outstanding issues and the plans going in relation to the Edevu Water Supply Project; and,
- Key stakeholders were to be consulted at every stage of the development of Central’s natural resources and negotiation of benefits.
She said Central’s provincial government and chamber of commerce and industry are ready to negotiate as partners in the design and construction of the proposed water treatment plant and distribution system at Edevu.
“Let us take back PNG by promoting round-table discussions on challenges and opportunities, encouraging participation by key stakeholders and the empowerment of each stakeholder to participate and benefit from development initiatives,” Peter said.
