Oil Search, Papua New Guinea’s biggest company, has been suspended from trading on PNGX, the country’s stock exchange, amidst claims that it did not follow proper procedure in its recent capital raising – claims the company is refuting.
Mining & Energy
Papua New Guinea’s government is coming under intense pressure to renegotiate the Special Mining Lease for the Porgera gold mine, which it refused to extend in April. Multiple industry bodies have urged the government to urgently negotiate with the mine’s joint venture operators, Barrick Gold and Zijin Mining, pointing to extreme economic stress.
Ok Tedi Mining has announced strong profits and dividends – important because it accounts for over four per cent of Papua New Guinea’s economy. But the future of the company, which has new shareholders, will depend on finding new reserves beyond the Ok Tedi mine’s projected six-year mine life.
The decision by the Marape-Steven government not to extend the Special Mining Lease on the Porgera gold mine is headed for the courts after the National Court of Justice at Waigani ordered both parties to have discussions to resolve the matter.
Prime Minister James Marape moves to allays concerns among Papua New Guinea’s mining companies following the decision not to renew the special mining lease for the Porgera gold mine. Meanwhile, the mine’s temporary closure is already affecting local business.
The global economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 outbreak has increased the urgency for Papua New Guinea to facilitate mining projects, which are the biggest providers of crucial foreign exchange. Business Advantage PNG speaks exclusively PNG’s Mineral Resources Authority about where the sector is heading.
The Papua New Guinea Government has announced that it will not renew the existing Special Mining Lease at the Porgera gold mine, which is operated by Barrick Gold. Barrick is set to challenge the decision.
Papua New Guinea is facing a debt crisis according to new reports from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, and the country will need the cash injection of new major investments to avoid ‘lacklustre’ future growth.
Papua New Guinea’s largest company, Oil Search, is proposing to raise US$700 million (K2.4 billion) to strengthen its balance sheet in response to declining oil prices. The company’s stake in the PNG LNG project may also eventually be on the table.
Analysts have contrasting views on the effect of the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia on long-term oil and gas projects in Papua New Guinea. David James considers these, and the likely impact on domestic petrol and diesel prices.