Photo Credit: Oil Search Businesses are waiting for clear answers from the government on when resource projects like Papua LNG and the Pasca A offshore oil and gas project will be operational. According to Rio Fiocco, head of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there had been rumors of agreements being signed or close to being complet...

Bougainville has the potential to become a strong local economy that is recognized nationally and internationally.  ABG Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Patrick Nisira said this when speaking on Trade and Investment in Bougainville during the parliament session this week in Buka. Minister Nisira had recently announced that ‘Bougainvill...

The Government of Papua New Guinea has signed a landmark agreement with one of the world's biggest companies to venture into 'green energy' in a partnership that is likely to revolutionise power generation and supply in the near future. In another bold move to "Take Back PNG", the Government today signed the 'Deed of Agreement' with Australian company ...

Anti-corruption efforts in Papua New Guinea have received a big boost from the European Union, which will invest €5.4 million (about K21.7 million) over three years. Dirk Wagener, a national representative for the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP), said during the inauguration of an anti-corruption program in Port Moresby that corruption has hampe...

The certification of 24 clans from the Special Mining Lease (SML) regions in Porgera was just completed, according to Mining Minister Johnson Tuke. Tuke stated that all arrangements had come to an end. Barrick Niugini Ltd (BNLinitial )'s lease ended on August 16, 2019. Tuke emphasized the importance of the validation effort in reconfirming the se...

Photo Credit: Post Courier / Department Secretary David Manau According to a department official, the petroleum and energy department is getting several requests from holders of petroleum prospecting licenses (PPLs) to prolong the term of their licenses. It suggested, according to Department Secretary David Manau, that it was difficult for the enter...

Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey applauded the International Monetary Fund's declaration that it will expand aid options for nations affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. These new alternatives will offer nations with money in the Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, of the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has also stated that it is considering adding to its...

To increase tourism, the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority requires additional government funding. PNG TPA Chief Executive Officer Eric Uvovo stated the government's support for tourism in PNG is a drop in the ocean, and TPA wants the government to recognize that tourism is a very vital and major sector that requires its assistance, as well as greater in...

The Mineral Resource Authority (MRA) is looking for new capital investments of K45 billion for new projects. In his presentation at the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum media and community affairs workshop, MRA managing director Jerry Garry stated that the mining industry alone had generated K17 billion in export income in 2019. “This is the highe...

The PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) has announced plans to move the industry ahead and has asked the government for greater funds to put them into action. They include the following: NATIONAL strategies for downstream processing of forest produce 2020-2024; PNGFA corporate plan for 2021-2030; SITUATION of the forestry sector; NATIONAL strategi...

According to Lucas Alkan, the chairman of the PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) national secretariat, the new report is more thorough than previous ones. It mirrored data gaps and suggestions in earlier studies, according to Alkan, in order to enhance openness and accountability in the mining and petroleum industries. The r...

Ben Wong has been named temporary chief executive officer of Paradise Foods Ltd for a three-month period. Wong had had senior leadership positions in international corporations and the fast-moving consumer goods industry before joining the company as the group chief financial officer in September 2019, according to Chairman Anthony Smaré. James Rice...

The PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PNGEITI) will extend to include three additional non-renewable industries, according to Chris Tabel, deputy head of the national secretariat. The forestry, agricultural, and fisheries industries, according to Tabel, sought to imitate the EITI model. He said that the EITI policy, which is present...

More than K1 million has returned to East New Britain following the province's sixth shipment of edible white copra at the end of last month. Kevin Kasap, the NGI Supply Co-ordinator for Coconut Resource Limited (CRL), has confirmed this. He said the province has sent its sixth shipment to Dubai, consisting of 10 containers weighing 108 metric tonne...

Photo Credit: PNGEITI / Lucas Alkan Among the 35 nations on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative list, the Papua New Guinea Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative has made significant progress. The EITI website listed 55 countries incorporated into individual countries at various stages of implementing the EITI Standard; nine cou...

PNG Ports Corporation is redeveloping and investing in its ports in the future as part of its 30-year master plan. Rodney Begley, the chief operating officer of the PNG Ports Corporation, said the company completed a 30-year master plan 18 months ago that included evaluations of every port in the country. “We did an economical assessment, environmen...

The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has rejected Link PNG's proposal to purchase shares in PNG Air Ltd for the second time. PNG Air Ltd had asked Link PNG Ltd to buy 40% of the company from the National Superannuation Fund and 9% from other shareholders. Last week, the consumer and competition watchdog said that after completi...

Morobe Governor and Deputy leader of the ruling Pangu Pati Hon Ginson Saonu today opened the PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Commission Bill Momase Regional consultation in Lae and gave his backing for the establishment of the Extractive Industries Transparency Commission. He welcomed a State Technical working group comprising the Department of ...

Indonesia border at Wutung Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades Indonesian Ambassador to PNG, H.E Andrias Supandi has paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister James Marape recently during which they discussed new and ongoing issues of mutual concern. The leaders discussed cooperation on COVID-19 and the reopening of the border, among other things. Both agree...

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP says the PNG Government is fully aware of the Santos Limited and Oil Search Limited proposed merger as announced on 21 July 2021 and is closely monitoring it. Prime Minister Marape said his Government has also noted the recent board and management changes at the Oil Search Limited. “Oil Search Limited is a promin...

Photo Credit: Ilya Gridneff/AAP Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited's attempt to address remaining legacy concerns from the Panguna mine has been appreciated by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG). From 1973 until 1989, President Ishmael Toroama claimed that the Panguna mine was exclusively responsible for funding Papua New Guinea's i...

Photo Credit: Oil Search Oil Search reported operating revenue of US$366.2 million (K1 billion) in the second quarter, up 21.5 percent from the first quarter (Q1). Other noteworthy features include: Oil output from operational fields increased by 4.6 per cent in the second quarter, owing to Moran's strong performance. PNG LNG output averaged...

According to the Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd, a decrease in coffee production of more than 200,000 bags yearly has resulted in a loss of K88 million to coffee growers (CICL). Jerry Kapka, the board chairman, stated that the people were "losing out" and "not getting what is anticipated." “I want to bring the industry to the management and work to...

The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission is debating whether or not to accept Kina Bank's bid to buy Westpac's share in Westpac Bank PNG Limited. Commissioner Paulus Ain of the ICCC has also issued a draft determination on Kina Securities Limited's Authorisation Application for the planned acquisition of 89.91 per cent of Westpac Bank-PNG-Li...