LNG boom ‘to put stress on facilities’

By SHEILA LASIBORI

THE Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PoMCCI) has expressed concern that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects would put a lot of stress on the limited capacity of infrastructure and facilties such as airports and road network.
And catering for the inflows of of expatriate workers would surely put pressure on airport facilities and accommodations, the chamber said.
“The influx of foreign workers as a consequence of the LNG project is only going to place more demands on our infrastructure and services, specifically the international and domestic airports, which are struggling now to cope with traffic.
“How could Jackson international airport possibly handle another 7,000 expatriate workers on a fly in, fly out basis?” Ken Dunn, the outgoing president of POMCCI, asked.
Mr Dunn expressed the chamber’s concern as he announced its plan to move soon to a new 600sqm office at the “Bizcentre” at Burns Philip building in Port Moresby which is now undergoing renovation.
“Then, there is the question over the capacity of the harbour facility being able to handle the large increase in freight arriving in the country and the added burden this will place on the roads around the centre for business development (CBD)”.
Mr Dunn noted the limited infrastructure especially in Port Moresby where the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) was struggling to cope with a growing metropolis.
“Other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had tentatively agreed to sub-lease available space in the Bizcentre which would see the establishment of a ‘one stop shop’ providing services to the business community.
“However, even with the current shortage of available commercial space, we do not anticipate any difficulty is sub-leasing the space we will not require,” he said yesterday during POMCCI’s 54th annual general meeting in Port Moresby.
Ron Seddon (Leasemaster) was elected POMCCI’s new president for the next 12 months.