The latest business news from Papua New Guinea and the region
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has formally tendered his resignation to the country’s Governor-General, Sir Bob Dadae, this morning. The resignation paves the way for Parliament to elect a new Prime Minister. Time will tell if it’s also the end of the People’s National Congress-led government, which has governed Papua New Guinea since 2011.
As far as business is concerned, Papua New Guinea’s foreign exchange challenges are far from over. That’s according to an exclusive Business Advantage PNG poll, which indicates the majority of businesses are still experiencing significant delays in meeting their foreign currency needs.
LNG has continued its slide and oil prices also weaken but cocoa and coffee prices rise. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly review of Papua New Guinea commodities and financial markets.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced his resignation yesterday at a press conference in Port Moresby. The announcement followed the defections on Friday of several MPs to the Opposition, which is now claiming sufficient numbers to form government in its own right.
Santos has acquired a 13.5 per cent interest in the P’nyang natural gas field in the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea. Analysts are generally bullish on the move, saying the company now has a strong balance sheet and is set to meet its production targets.
Are Papua New Guinea’s foreign exchange shortages in the past? Take our poll to find out.
The chairman of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), Sir Mel Togolo, has confirmed the company is talking to prospective partners about reopening the mine. But he is unwilling to put a date on when it might reopen.
Discussions between Papua New Guinea government agencies and the developers of the US$9 billion Wafi-Golpu copper-gold project have been put on hold by the country’s National Court while it considers an application for leave for a judicial review. Meanwhile, work under the project’s exploration licence continues.
PNG DataCo is in discussions with the operators of the new H2 undersea cable being laid between Sydney and Hong Kong. A branch line into Papua New Guinea could open up greater global connectivity as well as lower prices and improved reliability.
Papua New Guinea’s Parliament looked set to address a motion for a Vote of No Confidence in the O’Neill-Abel Government. However, with Parliament adjourned until late May, exactly when or if a vote will take place is a matter of speculation.