Pipeline
Angore PNG LNG pipeline project — armed landowner attacks and blockade
19–25 June 2018 · Repeated attacks
Angore, Hela Province, Papua New Guinea (approximate marker)
Map
-6.0500, 142.8600
What happened
Armed landowner protesters blockaded roads and repeatedly attacked the Angore wellhead and pipeline-construction area of ExxonMobil's PNG LNG project. Earthmoving equipment, tractors, machinery, containers and camp buildings were burned or damaged, and sections of an access road were dug up. Hela police said they were outnumbered and that many protesters were armed. The dispute concerned delayed royalty and benefit payments and a demand for 35 million kina described as project-security compensation. ExxonMobil confirmed vandalism, said its personnel were safe and initially reported that the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant continued operating normally. Further attacks followed within days, and the company later suspended work at the Angore well pads and pipeline area. No casualties were reported in the reviewed coverage.
When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Infrastructure
- Pipeline
- Current temperature
- Loading…
- Latitude
- -6.0500°
- Longitude
- 142.8600°
Attribution
Acknowledged by Angore landowner protesters
Police, local reporting and landowner representatives linked the attacks to disputes over unpaid royalties, benefits and a demanded 35 million kina project-security payment. This describes the participants and stated grievance, not a finding that every person in the affected landowner communities took part.
Sources
- Armed protesters block access, burn equipment at PNG's biggest resources projectABC News Australia · Incident reporting
- Hela landowners vandalise gas project, block road in PNGRNZ · Corroborates the 19 June blockade, damaged equipment, royalty dispute and ExxonMobil statement
- Landowners attack gas project site in PNG againRNZ · Documents the subsequent camp attack and continuing road blockade
- Violence forces Exxon to stop projectThe National · Confirms suspension of work at the Angore well pads and pipeline construction area