04/02/2009 (Solomon Star News) - PREPARATION for the ground breaking ceremony to start the Auluta Oil Palm Project in Malaita Province is now underway.

The Cabinet, in response to a request by the committee in the area, has set 27th February as a tentative date for the ground breaking ceremony.

However, the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture & Livestock Henry Pika said yesterday this is yet to be confirmed.

"Preparations of the program are now currently underway for this very important project. So I cannot confirm the date at this stage," he said.

The National Coordinator for the Oil Palm Project, George Boe, had looked through the outlined program for the ceremony.

The ground breaking ceremony was given the nod following the completion of the land acquisition process for nine tribal land in the Auluta basin, which were earmarked for the project.

This means that a total of more than 4,000 hectares of land is now ready for the project.

However, the government still needs another 1,500 hectares before the palm oil project can actually start.