DOCSLIB.ORG

Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Project (PNG LNG), Operated by Esso Highlands Limited (EHL), a Subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Project (PNG LNG), Operated by Esso Highlands Limited (EHL), a Subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation Uncharted wilderness: a detailed program for protecting biodiversity while developing liquefied natural gas infrastructure in one of the world’s least explored regions Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Project (PNG LNG), operated by Esso Highlands Limited (EHL), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation Identification of the relevant tip(s) associated liquids from new and existing wells in the Tip 4: Consult openly Southern Highlands and western provinces of PNG. The Engage in open dialogue with a diverse group of interested liquids will be separated and transported via the existing stakeholders. This is an effective means of leveraging crude oil export pipeline to the Kumul Marine Terminal local ecological knowledge, understanding the value of in the Gulf of PapuaAlien for export, while invasive the dry gas will traditional ecosystems, learning how natural resources are be transported in a buried pipe from the highlands to the used and avoiding potential resource conflicts. Gulf of Papua, then undersea to an LNG plant near Port Moresby where itspecies will be liquefied and shipped to andcustomers the oil Biodiversity Tip 7: Understand interdependence in Asia. The Project is operated by EHL on behalf of itself Conduct early, high level screening of project dependencies and co-venturers.and It will be developed gas in six phases industry over to identify risks related to resource competition. Ecosystems a period of 16 years, with first LNG deliveries scheduled do more than support wildlife: for example, resources such for 2014. Phase I of the Project (Initial Development and as land and water may be critical to the operation of oil Drilling) is under Guidanceconstruction as offor August prevention 2012. and management and gas facilities in addition to their contribution to habitat and community needs. Tip 9: Make your benefits mutual Understand social and economic needs and potential impacts to find solutions that integrate ecosystem health with human well-being and economic progress. This should minimise conflict between socioeconomic development and conservation goals. Executive summary Esso Highlands Limited (EHL), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is the operator of the Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Project (PNG LNG), which includes gas production and processing facilities, liquefaction and storage facilities, and more than 450 miles of related pipelines. As part of the development activities related to the project, EHL has developed a Biodiversity Strategy, which outlines how PNG LNG has and will continue to manage terrestrial biodiversity in its Upstream Project Area. As part of this Biodiversity Strategy, EHL is also developing an extensive technical rationale for biodiversity offset selection, scoping potential offset areas, activities and partners and assessing the feasibility of a number of options to implement the plan. Background The Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas (PNG LNG) project will involve production of natural gas and Figure 1. Location map and YUS Conservation Area Project. Other than the LNG Plant which is located in the National Stakeholder engagement will continue to be a key Capital District of Port Moresby, the Project is primarily component of EHL’s planning and decision making for located in the Kikori River Basin. This area is termed the biodiversity management. It should be noted that limited Upstream Project Area and spans the Gulf Province in the engagement has so far been undertaken with community Papua Region and the Southern Highlands Province and stakeholders. Extensive consultation and engagement (new) Hela Province in the Highlands Region (see Figure 1). with communities is planned during, and as the basis for, implementation of EHL’s offset program. Approximately one-third of the new onshore pipelines in the Upstream Project Area will be co-located within existing EHL’s Biodiversity Strategy draws extensively on the pipeline corridors. The Upstream Project Area is known PNG LNG Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for high biodiversity values and is the site of the Kikori and its Environmental and Social Management Plan Integrated Conservation and Development Project (KICDP, (ESMP). These in turn relied on biodiversity impact and now called the Kikori River Program), a WWF conservation management analyses of field data collected by WWF in initiative supported initially by Chevron Asiatic Ltd and then its KICDP initiative and new surveys carried out by EHL by Oil Search Limited. from 2005 to 2009. Activities The Biodiversity Strategy is designed to align with PNG Consultation is a key component of EHL’s planning legislation, International Finance Corporation (IFC) for biodiversity and is essential in order to maintain Performance Standard 6 and ExxonMobil policy. transparency and develop good working relationships with stakeholders. To date, EHL has met, in many cases on several The Biodiversity Strategy defines biodiversity values in occasions, with the following organisations: Conservation the main area of EHL’s operations, termed the Upstream International (United States and PNG), Ecoforestry Forum Project Area. These values have been defined at three PNG, Environmental Law Centre PNG, Institute for Applied scales: the large scale, which is the entire Upstream Ecology (University of Canberra), Institute of Biological Project Area; the medium scale, which is represented by Research (IBR) PNG, Mama Graun Conservation Trust particularly valuable areas termed priority ecosystems; Fund PNG, New Guinea Binatang Research Centre and the local-scale which are sensitive habitats referred to PNG, Partners With Melanesians Inc., Peace Foundation as focal habitats. Melanesia, PNG Conservation Forum, Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG, Tenkile Conservation Based on the surveys conducted over the past 15 years, Alliance, The Nature Conservancy (Unites States and PNG), biodiversity values have been defined for the Upstream Wildlife Conservation Society PNG, Woodlands Park Zoo Project Area as: (Seattle), World Wildlife Fund Western Melanesia (PNG) • Extensive intact forest. Figure 2. The Mitigation Hierarchy • High floristic diversity. pre-construction surveys undertaken during Project • High faunal diversity. construction. • Endemic species. To achieve these objectives, avoidance, mitigation and • Unique assemblages of species. monitoring of impacts on biodiversity values will be • Species of conservation concern. implemented at three levels: (i) large scale, which is the • Biodiversity of importance to local communities for entire Upstream Project Area; (ii) medium scale, which is resource use and cultural and spiritual purposes. represented by particularly valuable areas called ‘priority ecosystems’; and, (iii) small local-scale focal habitats. The overall goal of the biodiversity strategy is to retain the biodiversity values of the Upstream Project Area on a Outcomes regional scale for the long term. To achieve this goal, EHL Avoidance of impacts on biodiversity in the Upstream has adopted a series of objectives at several scales. These Project Area has been factored into feasibility, planning objectives are to: and design since the Project’s inception. In practice, this • Maintain the ecological intactness of the Upstream has meant considering avoidance measures at discrete Project Area as a whole – the long-term maintenance phases of the Project and at discrete scales, the latter of biodiversity requires long-term functioning of the within the Upstream Project Area aligning with the ecosystems in the Upstream Project Area. This objective identified three scales of biodiversity values. The primary is realised by mitigating potential Project related avoidance measures involved optimisations undertaken impacts capable of system-wide effects on function during the selection of sites for Project facilities and onshore such as invasive species, fire and uncontrolled access pipeline routing. These measures are described in detail leading to wide-scale deforestation and defaunation. in the Environmental Impact Statement and summarised in the Biodiversity Strategy. Avoidance of impacts to • Conserve priority ecosystems – some project biodiversity values continues during Project construction, infrastructure will be built within the priority ecosystems through implementation of the Environmental and Social and therefore it is necessary to mitigate Project related Management Plan. impacts during construction. In some cases this requires changes to Project design and the development of In particular, the following components of the ESMP are specific mitigation measures and will require ongoing relevant to the protection of biodiversity: management and control during operations. • Protect focal habitats – focal habitats are avoided or • Ecological Management Plan – the overall objective otherwise managed during construction to prevent the of this plan is to avoid where practicable and reduce reduction in a population of a critically endangered or impacts on terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats and endangered species. specific habitat features of ecological importance. • Account for residual impacts – impacts to biodiversity • Weed, Plant Pathogen and Pest Management Plan – values which cannot be avoided or otherwise mitigated the objectives of this plan are to prevent exotic invasive (residual impacts) and losses will be accounted for species from entering or becoming established in the through offset. Project Area, and to identify, contain and suppress priority
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Experiences, Challenges and Lessons Learnt in Papua New Guinea
    Practice BMJ Glob Health: first published as 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003747 on 3 December 2020. Downloaded from Mortality surveillance and verbal autopsy strategies: experiences, challenges and lessons learnt in Papua New Guinea 1 1 2 3 4 John D Hart , Viola Kwa, Paison Dakulala, Paulus Ripa, Dale Frank, 5 6 7 1 Theresa Lei, Ninkama Moiya, William Lagani, Tim Adair , Deirdre McLaughlin,1 Ian D Riley,1 Alan D Lopez1 To cite: Hart JD, Kwa V, ABSTRACT Summary box Dakulala P, et al. Mortality Full notification of deaths and compilation of good quality surveillance and verbal cause of death data are core, sequential and essential ► Mortality surveillance as part of government pro- autopsy strategies: components of a functional civil registration and vital experiences, challenges and grammes has been successfully introduced in three statistics (CRVS) system. In collaboration with the lessons learnt in Papua New provinces in Papua New Guinea: (Milne Bay, West Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), trial mortality Guinea. BMJ Global Health New Britain and Western Highlands). surveillance activities were established at sites in Alotau 2020;5:e003747. doi:10.1136/ ► Successful notification and verbal autopsy (VA) District in Milne Bay Province, Tambul- Nebilyer District in bmjgh-2020-003747 strategies require planning at the local level and Western Highlands Province and Talasea District in West selection of appropriate notification agents and VA New Britain Province. Handling editor Soumitra S interviewers, in particular that they have positions of Provincial Health Authorities trialled strategies to improve Bhuyan trust in the community. completeness of death notification and implement an Additional material is ► It is essential that notification and VA data collec- ► automated verbal autopsy methodology, including use of published online only.
    [Show full text]
  • Agricultural Systems of Papua New Guinea Working Paper No. 8
    AUSTRALIAN AGENCY for INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Working Paper No. 8 EASTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCE TEXT SUMMARIES, MAPS, CODE LISTS AND VILLAGE IDENTIFICATION R.M. Bourke, B.J. Allen, RL. Hide, D. Fritsch, R. Grau, P. Hobsbawn, E. Lowes and D. Stannard REVISED and REPRINTED 2002 THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY · PAPUA NEW GUINEA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK UNIVERSITY OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Working Paper No. 8 EASTERN HIGHLANDS PROVINCE TEXT SUMMARIES, MAPS, CODE LISTS AND VILLAGE IDENTIFICATION R.M. Bourke, B.J. Allen, R.L. Hide, D. Fritsch, R. Grau, P. Hobsbawn, E. Lowes and D. Stannard Department of Human Geography, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia REVISED and REPRINTED 2002 Correct Citation: Bourke, R.M., Allen, B.J., Hide, R.L., Fritsch, D., Grau, R., Hobsbawn, P., Lowes, E. and Stannard, D. (2002). Eastern Highlands Province: Text Summaries, Maps, Code Lists and Village Identification. Agricultural Systems of Papua New Guinea Working Paper No. 8. Land Management Group, Department of Human Geography, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra. Revised edition. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry: Eastern Highlands Province: text summaries, maps, code lists and village identification. Rev. ed. ISBN 0 9579381 8 7 1. Agricultural systems – Papua New Guinea – Eastern Highlands Province. 2. Agricultural geography – Papua New Guinea – Eastern Highlands Province. 3. Agricultural mapping – Papua New Guinea – Eastern Highlands Province. I. Bourke, R.M. (Richard Michael). II. Australian National University. Land Management Group. (Series: Agricultural systems of Papua New Guinea working paper; no.
    [Show full text]
  • Papua New Guinea (And Comparators)
    Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized BELOW THE GLASS FLOOR Analytical Review of Expenditure by Provincial Administrations on Rural Health from Health Function Grants & Provincial Internal Revenue JULY 2013 Below the Glass Floor: An Analytical Review of Provincial Administrations’ Rural Health Expenditure Rights and Permissions The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA; telephone: 978-750- 8400; fax: 978-750-4470; Internet: www.copyright.com. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax 202-522-2422; email: [email protected]. - i - Below the Glass Floor: An Analytical Review of Provincial Administrations’ Rural Health Expenditure Table of Contents Acknowledgment ......................................................................................................................... 5 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 20191227 PVR Loans 2486 2497 PNG Highlands Region Road
    Validation Report December 2019 Papua New Guinea: Highlands Region Road Improvement Investment Program-Project 1 Reference Number: PVR-652 Project Number: 40173-023 MFF Number: 0029 Loan Number: 2496 and 2497 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank DMF – design and monitoring framework DOW – Department of Works EIRR – economic internal rate of return km – kilometer MFF – multitranche financing facility NRA – National Roads Authority NTDP – national transportation development plan PCR – project completion report PNG – Papua New Guinea TA – technical assistance NOTE In this report, “$” refers to United States dollars. Director General Marvin Taylor-Dormond, Independent Evaluation Department (IED) Deputy Director General Veronique Salze-Lozac’h, IED Director Nathan Subramaniam, Sector and Project Division (IESP) Team Leader Toshiyuki Yokota, Principal Evaluation Specialist, IESP The guidelines formally adopted by the Independent Evaluation Department (IED) on avoiding conflict of interest in its independent evaluations were observed in the preparation of this report. To the knowledge of IED management, there were no conflicts of interest of the persons preparing, reviewing, or approving this report. The final ratings are the ratings of IED and may or may not coincide with those originally proposed by the consultants engaged for this report. In preparing any evaluation report, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, IED does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal
    [Show full text]
  • ENVIRONMENTAL and SOCIAL BASELINE REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized and IMPACT ASSESSMENT
    ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PNG AGRICULTURE COMMERCIALIZATION AND Public Disclosure Authorized DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT (PACD) Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared for the Department of Agriculture and Livestock March 2019 Public Disclosure Authorized 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 A.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 4 A.2 Project Description ................................................................................................ 5 A.3 Geographical coverage .......................................................................................... 6 PART ONE: BASELINE REPORT ......................................................................................... 7 B. Country Profile .............................................................................................................. 7 B.1 System of Government .......................................................................................... 8 National .............................................................................................................................. 8 Provincial ........................................................................................................................... 9 District.............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 48444-004: Sustainable Highlands
    Initial Environmental Examination (Updated as of August 2019) Project Number: 48444-004 Date: August 2019 Document status: Updated Version PNG: Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Program – Tranche 1 Prepared by the Department of Works (DOW) for the Asian Development Bank This Initial Environmental Examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or Staff, and may be preliminary in nature. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (As of 31 July 2019) Currency Unit – Kina (K) K1.00 = $ 0.2945 $1.00 = K3.3956 ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank AEP – Aggregate Extraction Plan AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOQ – Bill of Quantities CEMP - Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan CEPA – Conservation and Environmental Protection Authority CEPA-MD – CEPA-Managing Director CRVA _ Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment CSC - Construction Supervision Consultant DLPP - Department of Lands and Physical Planning DMR – Department of Mineral Resources DNPM - Department of National Planning and Monitoring DOW – Department of Works EARF – Environmental Assessment and Review Framework EHSG _ Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines
    [Show full text]
  • Provincial Scoping Review Report Enga Province November 2020
    Provincial Scoping Review Report Enga Province November 2020 Dendrobium engae 1 | Page Disclaimer Copyright © 2020 Global Green Growth Institute Jeongdong Building 19F 21-15 Jeongdong-gil Jung-gu, Seoul 04518 Republic of Korea This report was produced as part of a scoping review exercise conducted in three provinces: Enga, Milne Bay and New Ireland. Sections 1-4 of all three reports are similar as they contain information that is common to all three provinces. The Global Green Growth Institute does not make any warranty, either express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or any third party’s use or the results of such use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed of the information contained herein or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The text of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit uses, provided that acknowledgement of the source is made. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Global Green Growth Institute. 2 | Page Description of image on the front page Dendrobium engae, commonly known as the Enga Dendrobium, is a rare orchid that is endemic to the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It is a medium-sized epiphyte that grows on large tree branches at elevations of 1800 to 3500 meters in cool to cold climates. It is more commonly found in Enga Province, as compared to other highlands provinces, and therefore, is depicted on the Enga Provincial Flag.
    [Show full text]
  • Food Project PNG Food Profile
    THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA: PEOPLE & CUISINE The information presented here has been drawn from a combination of primary sources (interviews with ethnic Papua New Guinean women in Brisbane, Gold Coast & Townsville) and from secondary sources. It has been reviewed for consistency by members of the Queensland PNG community to ensure that information presented is accurate. HACC is a joint Australian Government-State funded program. Copyright © Diversicare 2012 This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License . It can be shared under the conditions specified by this license at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au 2 Table of Contents 1 Background .......................................................................................................................................................5 1.1 History[1] ................................................................................................................................................5 1.2 Regions ..................................................................................................................................................6 1.3 Climate ...................................................................................................................................................6 1.4 Population .............................................................................................................................................6 1.5 Urban vs. Rural populations .................................................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • Talking It Through: Responses to Sorcery and Witchcraft Beliefs
    Talking it Through Responses to Sorcery and Witchcraft Beliefs and Practices in Melanesia Talking it Through Responses to Sorcery and Witchcraft Beliefs and Practices in Melanesia Edited by Miranda Forsyth and Richard Eves PACIFIC SERIES Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Talking it through : responses to sorcery and witchcraft beliefs and practices in Melanesia / Miranda Forsyth, Richard Eves (editors). ISBN: 9781925021561 (paperback) 9781925021578 (ebook) Subjects: Witchcraft--Melanesia. Witchcraft--Papua New Guinea. Melanesia--Social life and customs. Papua New Guinea--Social life and customs. Melanesia--Religion. Papua New Guinea--Religion. Other Creators/Contributors: Forsyth, Miranda, editor. Eves, Richard, editor. Dewey Number: 133.43 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press Cover photo: Woman who had been accused of sorcery and tortured returning for the first time to her village following reconciliation. Photo courtesy of Father Philip Gibbs. Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2015 ANU Press Contents Foreword: Sorcery- and Witchcraft-Related Killings in Papua New Guinea . vii Gairo Onagi The Problems and Victims of Sorcery and Witchcraft Practices and Beliefs in Melanesia: An Introduction . 1 Miranda Forsyth and Richard Eves Part 1: Social, Economic and Cultural Dimensions to the Belief in Witchcraft and Sorcery 1 .
    [Show full text]
  • Witchcraft Accusations and Hybrid Formulations in Papua New Guinea
    On Knowing Humanity Journal 4(1), January 2020 response Witchcraft Accusations and Hybrid Formulations in Papua New Guinea Philip Gibbs The paper “Christian Pastors and (Alleged) Child experience from the Enga Province in the PNG Witches in Kinshasa, DRC,” by Robert J. Priest, Abel Highlands. 3 Ngolo, and Timothy Stabell (2020), tells of a new In PNG, as part of the Sorcery National Action Plan phenomenon in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SARV NAP), research is being carried out in three of where children are being accused of being dangerous the twenty one provinces in the country to ascertain who witches. The paper highlights the trusted role of is being accused of sorcery or witchcraft (the terms Christian church leaders, including pastors, prophets, sorcery and witchcraft, though theoretically different, apostles, and intercessors in addressing these witchcraft tend to be used arbitrarily in PNG). 4 The research suspicions and accusations. The focus is on findings investigates where, why, how often, by whom and how from a survey of the experiences, understandings, and sorcery/witchcraft accusations are changing over time. It practices of church leaders in Kinshasa and of various also investigates what accusations lead to violence at activities of the churches. African churches have been times and not at other times and what regulatory central both in propagating child-witch ideologies, and systems exist to overcome sorcery/witchcraft accusation in working to resist child-witch ideologies, accusations related violence. After almost three years the research and deliverance practices. includes records of 557 cases, of which 178 (32%) have This paper is a response from Papua New Guinea led to violence and even death.
    [Show full text]
  • Background Situation Overview
    Papua New Guinea: Highlands Earthquake Situation Report No. 2 (as of 14 March 2018) This report is produced by the National Disaster Centre, the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Coordination and Assessment (UNDAC) Team in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by the Disaster Management Team Secretariat. It covers the period from 10 March to 14 March 2018. The next report will be issued on or around 16 March 2018. Background According to initial estimates, over 544,000 people are affected across the five most affected provinces. Over 270,000 people require immediate humanitarian assistance. Priority needs include medicine, tarpaulins and tents, blankets, food, and water. The Government, private companies and humanitarian partners have focused initial relief efforts on communities in the worst-hit seven Local Level Government (LLGs) in Hela and Southern Highlands provinces. Main roads linking Hela and Southern Highlands provinces have been cleared, but many communities can only be reached with air assets. The Government has established Forward Operating Bases in Mt. Hagen and Moro, as well as Emergency Operations Centres in Mendi and Source: NDC, UNDAC, OCHA The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do Tari. not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. 544,368 270,442 18,200 7 affected people people in need of displaced in 26 LLGs prioritized for assistance informal care centres urgent assistance Situation Overview The National Disaster Centre (NDC) estimates that around 544,000 people have been affected in five provinces and that more than 270,000 people are in immediate need of assistance.
    [Show full text]
  • 2.3 Papua New Guinea Road Assessment
    2.3 Papua New Guinea Road Assessment 4.1 Papua New Guinea Government Contact List The land transport system comprises the national road system (8,762 km), provincial (approximately 8,100 km), and perhaps another eight thousand district, local and other roads, and eight hundred bridges. The national road include 3,335 km of designated “roads of national importance,” often called “priority roads,” and the focus of most maintenance and improvement efforts. There are 2,647 km sealed roads, almost all in the national system. Central Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, East Sepik, Madang and West New Britain have the most extensive networks. Apart from the Highlands Highway linking Lae with Goroka, Kundiawa, Mount Hagen, Mendi and their hinterlands, most of the national network is discontinuous, serving the relatively well- developed areas around the main commercial centers. The poorest parts of the country are the most poorly served by the road network.Geographic features, most noticeably several very large rivers, divide the road system into several distinct networks. The road system’s length has not increased since 2000. The government’s current policy is to improve the existing road network, rather than expand it (expansion would deny maintenance funds to existing roads and result in a net system loss. Landslides, floods and other natural disasters are frequent, necessitating repeated emergency works. Roads conditions are generally not good, but the Department of Works (DOW) has made considerable progress in maintaining, rehabilitating and upgrading national roads. The length of national roads classified in “Good” condition (according to the DOW’s RAMS database) rose from 17% in 2004 to 32% in 2010.
    [Show full text]