Projects will be signed: PM

By GYNNIE KERO
PRIME Minister James Marape says agreements on three multi-billion kina resource projects are expected to be signed in the next few weeks.
During a breakfast with members of the business community in Port Moresby yesterday, he thanked the investors of the US$5.4 billion (K18.49 billion) Wafi-Golpu copper and gold project, US$13 billion (K44.5 billion) Papua LNG project and the US$525 million (K1.7 billion) Pasca-offshore oil and gas project.
He said the final instruments for the Papua LNG project would be signed with the operator next week.
“TOTAL (have indicated) that next week we’ll sign the last instruments that needs to be cleared, at Government House,” he said.
“The managing director based in Singapore will come.
“We have given the necessary permit for Wafi-Golpu to get off the ground.
“For Pasca, we hope to sign the agreement soon.”
Marape said the projects would be handled within existing legislative regimes.
“I want to thank the investors of these projects for their patience,” he said.
“We expect that in a month or so, full maturity of these projects would be seen as far as projects agreements are concerned.”
Marape said the reopening of the Porgera gold mine in Enga “remains my top priority”.
“If everything goes to plan, Porgera should start in the first half of this year,” he said.