Project will churn out K800 million for Pomio, says RH

Source: The National-Tuesday, 25th October 2011 THE Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group estimates that its palm oil project in Pomio district in East New Britain will contribute some K800 million to its economy. It said the project would contribute royalties, payments, levies and other community funding and provide much-needed jobs, economic security, transport and social infrastructure to the local communities. Landowners were consulted by RH subsidiary Gilford Ltd and all necessary compliance documents had been forwarded to the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) currently underway, it added when condemning Greenpeace’s action in the district. RH said Greenpeace’s acts of piracy in PNG and throughout Asia-Pacific was well-documented and questioned whether the NGO’s actions could help the country’s long-term development goals. It said Greenpeace’s latest attack on the group’s oil palm project in Pomio was part of the NGO’s wider effort to transfer its global anti-oil palm campaign to PNG by tying it to the SABL issue. “There is no justification for Greenpeace’s actions in Pomio today. The palm oil project is supported by the majority of landowners in the area, based on the SABL in place under which all correct procedures were followed,” it said.