PNGBLOGS

by PETER KENGEMAR I have covered Fracking Technology and have stated that; fracking is applied in other parts of the world but is a technology not needed in our PNG reservoirs, and so it has not been used here. Next point of discussion is on wastewater is disposed and what is the standard industry practice? Should we associate this with the recent catastrophic earthquake? When oil or gas is brought to surface, there is associated formation water that co-exists with oil gas is also comes to the surface and is referred to as produced water. Other practices around the world (not in PNG) use that water to also use for Fracturing tight reservoirs to increase and enable oil gas to flow to the surface. The used water or produced water is normally (global industry practice) rejected under pressure slightly above the subsurface reservoir pressure back into the producing reservoir (same reservoir where oil gas is coming from). However the water is re-injected in a specific well called w

by PETER KENGEMA Let me just explain this so we all understand this fracking technology in the petroleum industry. I have spent half my life drilling both exploration wells and development wells from Western Province to Hela to SHP to Gulf and Central Province. And globally Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, South Africa, Mozambique to name some in the last 23 years. On my watch as supervisor or operations geologist or project geologist on those wells I have never ever been involved in any fracking technology use in PNG because PNG productive and proven reservoirs don't need fracking technology. Fracking is only confined to countries who explore and produce from shale gas. We in PNG don't explore for shale gas or coal bed methane.  The only exception to any fracking is acidising the limestone reservoir in Triceratops exploration well 1 where test results were not encouraging so company tried to improve but did not work.  The Elk 1 discovery

by SANA SIMILI Emergency response and rescue teams back disciplined forces are the first lot of people in any disaster areas of any country on earth. The emergency response n rescue teams rescue n repatriate the injured, those in arms way n retrieve the dead while the diciplined forces provide security. In PNG, we have seen many times before where we clearly have no emergency response teams. If we do, then they are clearly not up to the task. They are either poorly trained, poorly equipped or physically handicapped etc. Because of this many lives have been lost amongst other things throughout PNG at sea or on land. For the recent earthquake disaster in Hela n SHP, at least in the Aiya LLG of the Kagua Erave electorate, there is still no sign of these emergency response teams to this moment. It is believed that the same is the case in nearly the whole of or many parts of the affected provinces. There are images from Hela( see photo below on right) where the people themsel

by  Eragairma Yal I don't know if our Papua New Guinea Defence Force has a Blue Print. PNG has obtained the Right to Self-Rule in 1973 as a pre-qualification to gaining independence in 1975, 16th September. 43yrs on and I have just learned one fundamental fact that our PNG Defense Force has still been operating as the Eighth Division under the Australian Defense Force Military. The fact is we have not gained Military Independence. We are an Eighth Element or Division similar to an Infantry under the Australian Defence Force Military. One thing that baffles me is that the Australian Defense Force knowing very well that we are the Eighth Division operating under the ADF Military, why can't they develop our Defense Force into a full pledge Military Force carrying Land, Air and Sea Elements with complete state of the art equipment setup and logistics support with routine modern training as a requirement? Whatever arrangements they may have had in the past that lead us t

by ALBERT SCHRAM On 15 February, the Council of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT) decided to terminate my services, and gave me and my wife 7 days to ship out, and leave our residence on campus, where we have lived more than 6 years. On 19 January I was given a mere 7 days to answer the allegations, and I managed to hand in my answers though incomplete before the deadline. I returned on campus from an engagement elsewhere with my wife on 23 January, and that same day the Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Ora Renagi wrote that I should “stay away from the office. I was also denied an extension to prepare myself, and neither was I given access to important files in the Registry and Bursary regarding this case. Council itself, however, acknowledged that the main ground for dismissal was that allegedly I did not present a certified copy of my original doctoral degree from the European University Institute. Here is a link to my thesis on the Institute’s website http://

The PM recently instituted an Audit into the operations of one of the Foreign Missions allegedly for disposing of state property without complying with due processes as stipulated under the Financial Management Act (FMA), Public Service Management Act (PSMA) and the Foreign Service Manual of Operations and other related guidelines. This disposition and the subsequent audit carried out, as they say “is Only the tip of the iceberg”. Whilst waiting for the outcome of the audit, let us scrutinize some of the conduct of our Foreign Missions and its Officers at Post. The PNG Embassy in Manila Philippines will be in the uppermost list in official corrupt practices, abuse and mismanagement, especially of funds, allocated and funds generated through its Consular Services i.e. visa and Immigration services fees etc. From the Ambassador down to all staff, each has a fair share of misuse and abuse. The Ambassador and his staff have no regard for the existence of the FMA & PSMA and the n

SO BASIL CLAIMS I'M A LIAR? by BRYAN KRAMER Today the Post Courier published a front page story under the headline "Uproar in the House." The article was in relation to Member of Wau Bulolo and Minister of Communications & Energy Sam Basil's statement (personal explanation) on the floor of Parliament following question time yesterday. Basil's statement was in response to my article published on Facebook in relation to the recent defection of the Member of Wosera-Gawi Open from Opposition to O'Neill Government. An article authored by reporter Jeffrey Elapa, which I'm of the view was biased confirmed by the fact the reporter made no attempt to get my comment to balance the story. The central theme of the article and Basil's statement were expressed in the following terms: 1) Basil: the comments labeling me as “dumb and a stupid member of Parliament”, I felt obliged and convicted to stand up and speak as Mr Kramer’s comments are unaccept

by BRYAN KRAMER MP Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was caught lying and misleading Parliament during question time when it resumed its first session in 2018 on Tuesday. O'Neill was responding to a question raised by the Governor of Western Province, Toboi Yoto asking when his people would benefit from Oktedi Mine and when they would receive the share certificates. Western Governor explained that since the O'Neill Government took over the mine in September 2013 it had failed to transfer the share certificates representing 33% interest in the mine to the Western Province people. Further, still, they had yet to receive their dividends. In response, O'Neill claimed when his Government took over the mine from BHP, who at the time wanted to shut down the mine for not being profitable. He said the Government inherited a loss-making machine. He confirmed his Government has yet to transfer 33% interest to the landowners, claiming it was because of stamp duties issue.

MORE LIES FROM THE MASTER OF LIES Once again the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Peter O’Neill, has lied to Parliament and the people of Papua New Guinea . He told the House yesterday that when he illegally took over Ok Tedi, the company was making a loss. That is a lie. The accompanying figures, obtained from Ok Tedi’s own publicly reported accounts, show that Ok Tedi was at its most profitable when majority owned by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd. Since Mr O’Neill’s illegal expropriation in 2013, reported profits have been slashed to less than one-third of what they were. In 2012, the last year of PNGSDP majority ownership, profit was K913.3. In 2016, the last reported year of O’Neill ownership, profit was K384 million. Average annual profit under PNGSDP was K1172 million. Average annual profit under Mr O’Neill was K98 million. Returns to Western Province through development programs have fallen to virtually zero. Western Province has also not be

by JOHN E. KUA Deceit by definition is keeping the truth hidden to get an advantage. So did the prime minister deceive the people of Western Province on the 33 percent shares in OK TEDI MINING LIMITED? Yes, he did lie about the transfer LIMITED? to the people of Western Province as no open dialogue or consultation was conducted by the government or its agents ,including the Mineral Resources Development Corporation ( MRDC ), the Department of Mining or the Department of Environment & Conservation to distribute the share equity amongst the different classes of landowners and the provincial and local level governments. The O'Neill government was applauded for nationalising the mine in 2013, from BHP and it's trustees nominee PNGSDP in lieu of catastrophic environmental damages done to river systems along the OK Tri river and the Fly river which flows 400 nautical miles into the Gulf Delta, displacing almost 100.000 people who have depended on the river systems

by JOHN E KUA Over the past few months government propagandists have craftily colluded with the mainstream media to portray to nation,n , that all is well, and the nation is growing at leaps and bounds in contrast with the stark reality, that the nation is in a serious financial crisis, undergoing resuscitation from the international financial institutions in the hope a windfall of mysterious proportions would happen to end the current financial quagmire. Inside sources from the Bank of Papua New Guinea confide that the Governor of the Bank is not a trustworthy person as he lives out of his suitcase, globetrotting on trivialities, irrelevant to the core functions of the Bank, and is unable to apply the brakes on government spending and borrowing. Meanwhile, the government tries its best to conceal an open secret that all is well by manipulating the mainstream and social media, that the government is doing what it has to do in so far as the welfare of the nation is concerned. T

by NEMO YALO In my last article relating to the appointment, suspension and revocation of appointment of Chief Executive Officer (hereafter “the CEO) of a statutory authority I concluded by stating that under the relevant laws the ultimate decision to appoint or suspend or dismiss a CEO rests with the Head of State (hereafter “the HoS”) and none other. I further stated that I will write about a particular statutory authority that has made two acting CEO appointments and terminated the incumbent CEO in breach of the relevant laws. Here I write about the Accident Investigation Commission (hereafter “the AIC”) board illegally appointing an expatriate as acting CEO. The AIC is the statutory authority entrusted to investigate aviation accidents and incidences (occurrences) in order to determine the cause(s) so as to prevent similarly or the same incident or accident occurring in future. The AIC board comprises the Chief Commissioner who must be a National Court Judge or lawyer with 10

by Eragairma Yal Recently I wrote about how tax can be effectively measured and collected and how Asians were evading taxation matters by violating the norms and practices of business in PNG. Does anyone get to know or question why we have cash flow problems in the country as of or about the late 90s to date? Asians have taken over all reserved businesses and own about 95% of all shops from tucker shops to trade stores, Kai bars and up to retail stores, supermarkets and wholesale. About 80% of these businesses don't have an operating bank account with our commercial banks. However, they store cash in their safe back in their bedrooms. And listen carefully what I will share with you. Nearly all these businesses are not owned by the so-called managers and handymen who run the shops but are owned by their millionaires and billionaires back in their own countries. These Asians who are here are least significant and those that have no real values back in their place of orig

by IAN LING-STUCKEY MP # The biggest negative impact will be on family food budgets. There have been a massive set of price increases facing families – 518 areas where family food budgets will face increases. PNG Families to suffer from government’s tariff increases “PNG families will be facing much higher prices in 2018 because of poor government policies. Since forming government in 2017, the National Government has organised to increase prices on 918 items. These price increases will start coming through early in the new year. A government more in touch with the high cost of living facing our people would not deliberately increase prices that mainly suited their business besties” said the Shadow Minister for Treasury and Finance, Ian Ling-Stuckey. “The biggest negative impact will be on family food budgets. There have been a massive set of price increases facing families – 518 areas where family food budgets will face increases. The major ones are the 25% increase in milk

by NEMA YALO LLB The recent saga in relation to the appointment of the Secretary for the Department of Commerce and Industry has prompted me to write this article for public benefit. The process relating to the appointment, suspension and revocation of the appointment of a departmental head is provided for under the Constitution, the Public Services Management Act 2014 (hereafter “the Act”) and the Public Services (Management) (Employment of Departmental Heads) Regulation 2014 (hereafter “the Regulation”). This article should answer two primary issues, namely, what is the process involved in appointing, suspending and revocation the appointment and who ultimately makes the appointment, suspension and the revocation of appointment. For space reasons, some detail aspects of the process are omitted. Appointment of Departmental Head. The appointment of a departmental head is provided for under Section 193 of the Constitution and Section 27 of the Act. A detailed procedure is presc

by PNGI A Member of Parliament is elected to serve his constituents, and is paid handsomely to do it; a minimum of K330,000 a year in take home pay, according to Madang MP Bryan Kramer. For this princely sum, surely an electorate should expect their member will spend every working hour striving to support their struggles and advance their interests? After all, K330,000 a year is 45 times the national minimum wage and more money than most people could even dream of earning. If an MP is given the added honour of serving as a Minister of State his take home pay is increased, to reflect the added duties and responsibilities, to a cool K546,000 per year. After all, said Minister now has not only the weight of responsibility of serving his own constituents, he now has responsibility for a whole government department, hundreds of staff and numerous local, national and international obligations. No time here, clearly, for personal business interests, nor should there be. After all, that i

by DAVID LEP I While the PM’s warrant of arrest saga has dragged into another kaleidoscope of a turn, valuable lessons can be learned from this experience. I particularly came across two important lessons. First and foremost, it is extremely important to note that never allow personal vendetta and political ambition get in the way to overthrow a mandated government by using state apparatuses and slip in the law. Perhaps not only legitimate but the most dignified and honourable manner in taking on a government in our parliamentary democracy is on the floor of parliament and square it out using smart political maneuvering, tactical statecraft or popular policy intervention in amassing the required strength in numbers to form a government or overthrow a government through the vote-of-no confidence. Resorting to other shabby and malicious means is for the weak and desperate. It is said that in natural selection the weak always try to bring down the strong given their a