“A rushed process could result in a flawed agreement,” the company said in a release Sunday, according to the Post Courier newspaper.

Talks between the PNG Government and various landholder groups were held in Port Moresby last month, with the end of May the proposed deadline.

In Oil Search’s latest quarterly report, managing director Peter Botten described the finalisation of the GPCSA as a critical component ahead of the project sanction decision, now expected in the second half of this year.

“While progress has been made on reaching a negotiated settlement, further work is required over the next few months and this, together with finalising the new government and landowner agreements, remains a critical piece of business for the project participants,” he said.

Libe Parindali of Hiwa Tuguba Hides Association again expressed concerns to the Post Courier over the failure of the PNG Government to come to the negotiating table.

The chairman of the landowner group also claimed project joint venture partners were yet to carry out proper landowner identification and social mapping in the project areas.

“If the project fails, it is because of PNG Government politics or the corporate politics of the joint venture partners. But we still want the project to proceed as scheduled and we are willing to meet on the GPCSA anytime if the outstanding issues are resolved,” he told the paper.

The partners in the project include Oil Search (37.18%), ExxonMobil (25.67%), PNG Government and landowners (14.27%), Australian Gas Light (10%) and Nippon Oil (3.39%).

Santos and Oil Search are presently in discussions regarding Santos’ entry into the project. If it enters the development, Santos will hold a 9.49% stake.