Minister highlights govt’s focus projects

PETROLEUM Minister Dr Fabian Pok says the Government is prioritising three critical projects namely Pasca A, P’nyang and the Elk/Antelope natural gas developments in Gulf and Western.
Pok told the Petroleum and Energy Summit in Port Moresby yesterday they would be aware of the major developments taking place in the petroleum sector in PNG.
“We have been hit by the recent earthquake in the Southern Highlands and Hela provinces and the world economy downturn,” he said.
“However this has not stopped our resolve to work hard even more to bring in projects to fruition.”
Pok said the ministry was working with the Gas Projects Coordinating Office to ensure the processing of the proposed development licences were completed.
“However, critical oversights from the PNG LNG Project means that the State will carefully screen these projects to comply with the outcomes of the Alotau Two accord,” he said.
Pok commended the companies involved in the three projects for their commitment.
“Twinza Oil on the progress they are achieving on Pasca A – this is a landmark development for PNG as it will be the first off-shore natural gas field development,” he said.
“The government is looking forward to the project going into construction phase towards the end of this year and thereon into production stage.
“I am encouraged with the progress of Pasca A and discussions surrounding domestic gas supply and am looking forward for the start-up phase.
“I commend also Total, ExxonMobil and Oil Search in regard to the Elk/Antelope gas field development proposal, located in the hinterlands of Gulf.
“For this proposal, resource extraction synergies are in consideration and my department is awaiting the development concept from the operator Total.
“I am advised FEED is expected to commence in mid to late 2018 and FID at the end of this year or mid-2019.
“In regard to the P’nyang proposal, the State is looking forward to receiving the further additional information from the field operator ExxonMobil as requested in the instruments issued by the department secretary in November 2016.
“It must be noted that the State maintains emphasis that this is a completely new stand-alone project with new fiscal agreements going forward.
“The three new gas fields proposals are nearing grant or refusal decisions and critical professional assessments have to be completed within 2018.”