This public notice serves to inform all project area landowners in Hides Petroleum Development License 1 (PDL1) that the Mineral Resources Development Company Limited (MRDC) has concluded its mediation process for the Hiwa outstanding clans and will resume the Clan Bank Account Opening and Directors Election for the Hiwa region in the coming weeks.  A detail schedule will be published.

This follows the completion of the MRDC facilitated mediation process involving disputes over the clan leadership of the five Hiwa clans – Kenamu, Hunumani, Arua, Wita and Ware 1.

The clan leadership disputes and court proceedings halted the process MRDC commenced in 2024 to open bank accounts and conduct elections for the Directors of the Hides PDL1 corporate trustee.

After successfully achieving 84 per cent completion of the Clan Executives and Directors Election process, the program was suspended due to internal clan leadership disputes, and a court injunction.

In April 2025, MRDC reconvened the Clan Executives Mediation Program for two months at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby in compliance with court orders made in OS 38 of 2025 Larry Andagali v. MRDC & Ors and OS 39 of 2025 Howard Lole v. MRDC & Ors.

By October 2025, all restraining orders were dissolved by the Courts, paving the way for the MRDC led process to go ahead.

A dispute settlement process Chaired and facilitated by Chief Magistrate His Worship Mark Pupaka, and independent observers Dr Fabian Pok and Mr. Sandy Talita ensued from October 2025 to February 2026.

After exhaustive consultation, discussions and mediation with the leaders of the five (5) Hiwa Clans, the Chief Magistrate and the observers provided a report to MRDC with their recommendations for the Minister for Petroleum, to consider and approve their finding and outcomes.

On March 23, 2026, the Minister for Petroleum acted upon the recommendations in recognizing the Clan Leadership for the following Hiwa Region clans as follows:

MRDC has also received the Minister’s endorsement of the leadership of Wita and Ware 1 Clans of Hiwa Regions. These two clans will have their leadership confirmed once their respective Court proceedings are formally concluded. The clans’ leaders are urged to ensure disposal of these Court proceedings to allow timely completion of this process. For these reasons, findings for both clans are not included. Parties at are liberty to pursue a resolution through the courts or by consensus.

It should be noted that MRDC has used a thorough process of positive engagement for over 24 months to bring about a compromise and resolution to these protracted leadership tussles.

MRDC will now commence the process to have two representatives of the Hiwa Region appointed to the Board of the PDL1 Corporate Trustee and complete the Account Opening for the remaining Hiwa clans.  Ensuring the timely distribution is to the beneficiaries of PDL 1 is the central focus going forward. This requires collective leadership, cooperation and responsibility by all stakeholders, resolve and understanding.

For further information, please contact project coordinators: Mr. Kuns Boli – 7175 4867 and/or Mr. Mel Yapi – 79670747