Papua New Guinea: PNG SEZ-01/Madang Province

Date Filed
12 Jul 2011
Status
Closed
Phase
Dispute Resolution (DR), Compliance
Country
Papua New Guinea

Case Tracker

Eligibility
Eligibility
Assessment
Assessment
Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution
Monitoring
Transferred
Closed
Compliance
Appraisal
Closed
CURRENT Status
Appraisal (COMPLIANCE)
Closed

Complaint Overview

Complainant

Bismarck Ramu Group (BRG) on behalf of 105 local signatories

Concerns

Community consultation, environmental planning, impacts to fish, reefs and lagoons, and wider social and environmental impacts

Cross-Cutting Issues
Risk Management Land Resettlement Biodiversity Air Land Water Project Benefits

Project Information

Region
East Asia & the Pacific
Institution
IFC
Name & Number
PNG SEZ 564427
Company
Department of Commerce & Industry, PNG
Sector
Advisory Services
Commitment

Advisory Services

Synopsis

Complaint

The Government of Papua New Guinea incorporated the concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into its overall economic development strategy and, in 2008, asked IFC for assistance in developing the legislative framework that would allow SEZs to be established in the country.  As part of its Advisory Services, IFC approved the project in April 2009.  In the earlier stages of the project, IFC’s plans included assisting with the site selection of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) in Madang Province and looking at implementing guidelines for SEZs.  However, the government took the lead in selecting the site and IFC’s involvement was no longer required.  Since then IFC has drafted a legal model that provides a general framework for the development and operation of SEZs and has submitted the model legislation to the Department of Commerce and Industry for consideration.

In July 2011, the CAO received a complaint from a local NGO and elected representatives on behalf of several villages in Madang Province. The complaint raises concerns about the impact of the PMIZ – meant to be the first SEZ to be established by the Government of Papua New Guinea – on local populations and the environment.  The complainants are particularly concerned about the lack of local consultation with landowners in the area, the lack of environmental planning, and the implications of the SEZ for fish populations, reefs and lagoons, as well as wider environmental and social impacts of an industrial zone in that area.

Action

The CAO found the complaint eligible for further assessment in July 2011. A CAO team travelled to the field in September and October 2011 and February 2012 to discuss the issues with the parties and other key stakeholders. As a result, the government and the complainants have agreed to undertake a dispute resolution process to address the issues in the complaint with CAO's assistance. This is captured in CAO's Assessment Report which was released in February 2012.

In October 2012, a multi-stakeholder meeting was convened, bringing parties together to discuss options for addressing issues raised in the complaint. The result of these meetings was a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all parties, including government representatives. An action plan was also agreed-upon as part of the memorandum. The signed MoU and the joint government communiqué that resulted from these meetings are both available through the link below.

During CAO’s monitoring of the agreement implementation, community members and Madang Provincial Government expressed concern that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was not following through on the agreed actions. Despite multiple inquiries and requests for meetings, CAO was unable to obtain a response from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Therefore, CAO was unable to continue with the dispute resolution process and its monitoring role. One agreed item that was implemented was the establishment of the Environmental Office in Madang which will act as a monitoring agent on environmental concerns.

As the agreements were not fully implemented, the case was transferred CAO Compliance on July 31, 2014 in line with CAO’s Operational Guidelines.

Status

CAO has completed a compliance appraisal of IFC's role with regard to this advisory services project.  The appraisal notes that IFC has not had any substantive involvement in the development of the Madang PMIZ which was the subject of the complaint. Absent indications of significant adverse outcomes stemming from the project, CAO finds that a compliance investigation is not warranted. As a result, CAO closed the case.

Status as of September 4, 2014

 

Case Documents

  • Complaint
    List of complainants and villages
    Jul 12, 2011
    English
    List of complainants and villages
    Assessment Report(s)
    Assessment Report
    Feb 01, 2012
    English
    Assessment Report
    IFC Response to CAO Ombudsman Assessment Report
    Apr 11, 2012
    English
    IFC Response to CAO Ombudsman Assessment Report
    Agreement(s)
    Joint Communique
    Aug 01, 2011
    English
    Joint Communique
    Signed_MoU
    Oct 16, 2012
    English
    Signed_MoU
    Close-out Report(s)
    CAO Ombudsman/Dispute Resolution Conclusion Report
    Jul 01, 2014
    English
    CAO Ombudsman/Dispute Resolution Conclusion Report
  • Compliance

    Appraisal Report(s)
    CAO Appraisal Report: IFC Advisory Services to Government of Papua New Guinea
    Aug 29, 2014
    English
    CAO Appraisal Report: IFC Advisory Services to Government of Papua New Guinea
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