The long commodity bear market is coming to an end, according to Richard Yetsenga, Chief Economist for the ANZ Banking Group. He also observes that, in a world growing more sceptical about globalisation, there is growing competition for foreign direct investment.
The Managing Director of PanAust, Fred Hess, has announced a rethink on the company’s proposed Frieda River mine project. ‘It is no longer just a mining project’—it is a development project for the Sandaun and Sepik provinces, he told the Papua New Guinea Mining and Petroleum Conference in Port Moresby.
The next decade could be a ‘golden’ one for the mining sector, believes Roger Gunson, Executive Manager, Regulatory Operations at the Mineral Resources Authority. But he has called for changes to Papua New Guinea’s government policy to better protect mining tenements.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, told the PNG Mining and Petroleum Conference yesterday that there would be no new taxes for the resources sector. Meanwhile, presentations by the major industry players suggest the next 12 months will be critical in determining the future growth of the sector.
Oil and gas prices are up and copper is also strong. Business Advantage PNG’s monthly review of Papua New Guinea commodities and financial markets comes to you from this week’s PNG Mining and Petroleum Conference in Port Moresby.
Oil Search may look to list its power business on the Papua New Guinea stock exchange, Peter Botten, Managing Director of Oil Search tells Business Advantage PNG. He says that in 10 years he hopes the company’s production will have tripled.
A shift in the resources industry is expected, with demand for more “exotic” minerals increasing. But Justin Smirk, Senior Economist at Westpac Institutional Bank tells Business Advantage PNG that industry players must apply a long-term and holistic approach to reap the benefits.
Two key events before year’s end are likely to decide the timeline for the rebuilding of the Panguna copper mine on Bougainville Island. The Chairman of Bougainville Copper Limited, Rob Burns also tells Business Advantage PNG two board appointments last month (Oct) is part of the company’s strategic development.
As Horizon Oil awaits government and regulatory approval for their mid-sized Western LNG project, CEO Brent Emmett says it is considering using Kumul Petroleum’s alternative pipeline proposal, but wants assurances the pipeline is viable before committing.
The copper price has increased by about a quarter in 2017, although it is still below its 2013 highs. Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre at ANU tells Business Advantage PNG that the boost in the copper price is important for Papua New Guinea, in particular, Ok Tedi.