Coastal clans seek inclusion in Papua LNG landowner process

Coastal communities along the proposed Papua LNG Offshore East Gas Pipeline in Central Province are calling on the Government to include 26 excluded clans in the Social Mapping and Landowner Identification (SMLI) process.

They argue they have been directly affected by the project and deserve recognition as beneficiaries.

Kairuku Papua LNG Offshore Pipeline Holdings Limited (KPLOPHL), which represents communities along Segment 4 of the offshore pipeline from Yule Island to Ala'ala, has formally appealed to Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina and the National Petroleum Authority to review the Ministerial Determination issued on June 6th, 2026.

On Monday, July 6th in Port Moresby during a media conference, Chairlady Linda Paru said while 15 clans were recognised under the determination, 26 coastal clans from five villages were left out despite their traditional fishing grounds falling within, or close to, the project's offshore pipeline corridor.

Ms Paru said the excluded communities include Nabuapaka, Chiria, Pinupaka, Delena and Poukama, with Delena and Poukama not included in the SMLI study at all.

She said the affected communities rely on the same coastal waters for their livelihoods and should be recognised as project beneficiaries.

"The SMLI identified some villages, including Iare, Oroi and Ala'ala, but others recognised in the study were omitted from the Ministerial Determination," she said.

"We are not opposing the project. We simply want genuine landowners and affected coastal communities to be fairly recognised before any decisions are finalised."

KPLOPHL argues that under the Oil and Gas Act 1998, the SMLI should guide the identification of affected landowners before a Development Forum is held and before beneficiary determinations are finalised.

The group claims finalising the Ministerial Determination before the Development Forum and without notifying all affected communities denies those clans the opportunity to be heard.

The landowners are also calling for the public release of the SMLI report, inclusion of all affected coastal communities in the clan-vetting process, and proper notice before the Development Forum proceeds.

Ms Paru said although the 30-day period for seeking a judicial review had expired, the group remained committed to resolving the matter through dialogue and consultation.

She also acknowledged the support of the Central Provincial Government and appealed to its newly established Extractive Industry Sector to conduct due diligence to ensure all genuine landowners are included before the Papua LNG project moves to its next stage.

The group says it supports the Papua LNG development but wants a transparent process that guarantees equitable benefit sharing for all legitimately affected communities.