The multi national developer of the liquified natural gas resource in Papua New Guinea and a landowning group in the newly created Hela province have been directed to try and reach a compromise over who owns the area being developed.
The Tuguba Tribal Hela Nation claim they're the legal owners of the land, not the landowners that ExxonMobil has signed a deal with.
In January the Chief Justice ordered both parties enter mediation but ExxonMobil appealed.
After a ruling on Tuesday a court official says both parties have been directed to try and seek a compromise before meeting formally in the National Court again today.
