PNG Plans to rehabilitate Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says there are major plans to rehabilitate and develop the Lombrum Naval Base in Manus Province.

Mr Marape says in a statement, this is to strengthen PNG’s naval surveillance capabilities to patrol the northern maritime borders as well as to develop it as a Special Economic Zone.

He says the Australian government has embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation of the base, which will boost a northern maritime border surveillance capability, and deployment capabilities.

Mr Marape says this is after Australia operated the facility to support their offshore processing policy for asylum seekers.

In relation to employment and business opportunities, the Prime Minister says the Manus Provincial Government must be consulted to ensure that there is participation by local businesses in potential economic activities.

NBC / PNG Today

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