PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum

Chamber President, Gerea Aopi, said it has been many years since the PNG Government agreed to establish a National Petroleum Authority and it was commendable that Dr Fabian Pok has undertaken to finalise preparation of this Bill.

The NPA will play an important role in regulating PNG’s oil and gas sector, which has grown in importance since commencement of LNG exports in May 2014.

Distributed to mining projects with PNG employees engaged under FIFO arrangements, the questionnaire revealed inspiring stories and long-term benefits for employees from across PNG.

Thousands of workers within Papua New Guinea’s mining industry are employed on a FIFO basis, complementing the staff drawn from local communities and host provinces.

Respondents cited a number of benefits of the employment arrangement including:

Opening the forum in Port Moresby, Minister Tuke highlighted the wide range of challenges the sector faces, and the important work being undertaken by APEC to address these, in collaboration with industry.

In his keynote presentation, international mining expert John Strongman urged APEC Ministers to implement the right fiscal, regulatory and legislative settings to attract global investors. 

The industry contributed over 26 percent of PNG’s Gross Domestic Product and around 80 percent of the nation’s export revenue valued at K23 billion (approximately US$7.3 billion) as of September 2017.

The industry also directly employs over 20,000 people, with significantly more working in other sectors dependent on the industry, including landowner businesses.

Deputy president of the Chamber, Richard Kassman, said this includes the notion that there was over representation by the industry on the MRA Board, which could lead to conflict of interest.

Kassman also raised concern on the amendment to increase the development levy and transfer of a portion of this money to the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management.

In February the NEC and Parliament passed amendments to the MRA Act.

They include: