Team leader named for gas fields talks

A State negotiating team (SNT) will closely look at the three gas fields currently under development in the country, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, pictured, says.
The announcement came yesterday following a Cabinet decision to establish the team, which would lead in project development deliberations with the new natural gas field development proposers this year.
“The team will be led by the Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari with the managing director of Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (Wapu Sonk) as the deputy team leader,” O’Neill said.
“The other members of the team are the secretaries for the departments of Treasury and Petroleum, the managing director of Mineral Resources Development Company, the director for the Gas Projects Coordination Office and the state solicitor for legal advice and clearance of gas agreements.
“The three natural gas fields, namely Pasca A, P’nyang and Elk/Antelope are approaching project development.
“Two (Pasca A and P’nyang) are in application for petroleum development licence (APDL) while one (Elk/Antelope) is fulfilling its petroleum retention licence (PRL) conditions in preparation to move onto making an APDL.
“The team (SNT) will prepare and enter into negotiations with each of the project development proposers and establish a Gas Agreement for each of the projects.”
O’Neill also announced the terms of reference for the SNT as well as an advisory board and a technical working group.
The Government’s Gas Project Coordination office (GPCO) will provide the secretariat role to the SNT and to the advisory body as well.
The SNT will be reporting directly to the ministerial gas committee which shall be headed by Petroleum Minister Dr Fabian Pok.
“As we prepare to host the Apec leaders’ meeting in Nov, PNG needs to showcase the
next lot of world-class developments to LNG customers from within the Apec economies and secure potential buyers,” O’Neill said.
“The Government is committed to concluding negotiations with the developers.
“I wish to encourage the developers to work closely with the State negotiating team so the three natural gas projects can be developed to bring benefit to the developers, financiers, land owners and the country.”