Chairman of Petroleum Resources Gobe and Gobe Leadership Committee, Mr. Philip Kende through MRDC also acknowledges the tireless efforts of the Chiefs from Imawe Bogasi and Tipurureke who have took the lead and agreed to a cease fire after a weeklong meeting in Port Moresby.

Mr. Kende said, “as Chairman for the Gobe Project area people, I feel that it is important that there is peace and harmony in the Gobe Oil Project area and we will do all the best we can to ensure that peace prevails.”e in touch with the landowners of the resources projects", said Mr. Mano.

MRDC Managing Director and CEO Augustine S Mano said, “Today marks an historical event as two tribes known for fighting among themselves have agreed to make peace. This creates another opportunity for the men and young boys who have lived in fear for many months, to look at life from another perspective and help in developing the Samberigi Valley.”As custodians of the peoples’ resources, we at MRDC will help as much as possible to make sure that there is peace and stability in all our project sites.”

Mr. Mano said, “the last thing we would like to see the uncontrolled escalation of tribal fights that will cause ripple effects into the Gobe area that will have a negative impact on the oil and gas businesses, especially the PNG LNG Project.” The Managing Director said, “MRDC has been proactive with the landowners in the peace ceremonies as we value the importance of people living and working together in peace which in turn sends a positive signal to the host communities to resolve their differences and continue to exist in a peaceable way.”

He added that the PNG LNG Project will bring significant changes to the economic landscape of the Gobe community as well as Papua New Guinea and today’s peace ceremony signing will ensure that the construction phase of the project taking place at Gobe will proceed smoothly in the area. Mr Mano said that the people of Samberigi should take pride in the PNG LNG Project as they are direct owners of the project. “Our actions leading up to the flow of first gas is important as we are equally as important as other joint venture partners Esso Highlands, Oil Search, Santos and Nippon Oil in the PNG LNG project.” “Benefits from the PNG LNG Project are immense and I am encouraging the people of Samberigi to grab these opportunities to benefit from the spin off businesses from the project. Grow fruits and vegetables and supply the mess that will feed the workers, cut timber and supply the project or provide semi skilled labour to the project”, said Mr Mano.