“The government has to remain consistent in its support for clean development options for the future benefit of PNG, its people and, in this instance, our atmosphere,” Bengo said in a statement.
He was referring to the government’s decision to ban the importation of petroleum products with sulphur content higher than the legally allowable level.
A National Executive Council submission by State Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare on the matter is awaiting Cabinet hearing and deliberation.
Somare has also reportedly been meeting with stakeholders, especially companies who use the high sulphur fuel for their industrial operations including shipping, mining and generating electricity, among others.
“I want these proponents of heavy fuel dumping in PNG to tell me whether the same high sulphur content fuels are being permitted for use in developed economies like Japan, America, Singapore, Australia and South Korea,” Bengo said.
“Our standards must be lifted to protect our environment and our people. The cabinet, therefore, took a collective decision in January to regulate the content of sulphur in fuels that are being dumped in PNG. The cabinet has taken that decision and we cannot change the goal post and bow to the pressure from international companies,” he said.
Bengo said since Sir Michael took office in 2002, he had made it a priority to push for cleaner options in the fight to avert global warming.
He said PNG had gained international recognition for its stand in getting developing countries included in the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
“Appropriate authorities should be looking into these areas like drugs that are banned in developed countries but dumped in developing countries,” he said, adding that while PNG was not among the great polluters of the world, it must not be complacent but be proactive in introducing high standards to which international and domestic companies should comply.
The National contacted representatives from some of the major companies whose industrial operations have been affected by the ban.
They said (on anonymity) that they did not dispute the national government’s regulation, however, their argument was that they were not consulted before the ban was gazetted.
National Court proceedings have been launched against the ban in Port Moresby.
Consort Express Lines shipping company obtained orders, among others, to stay the ban “only” for marine fuels.
Consort has been granted leave to apply for a judicial review into the national government’s decision to ban the importation of high sulphur fuel.
