Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second-largest city, is again emerging as a key location for investment. Far from drawing investors away from capital Port Moresby, a buoyant Lae could actually be good for both cities, say representatives from the two cities’ business chambers.
Changes to the Oil and Gas Act, Prime Minister James Marape has announced that he wants to get the Wafi-Golpu gold mine ‘operational at the soonest’, and opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch has presented a case to challenge Marape’s election as prime minister. Your weekly digest of business news.
The mining industry needs government help to solve an exploration crisis, according to industry representatives. But government bodies are saying there needs to be a better sharing of the rewards in the national interest. Business Advantage PNG looks at the contrasting views of the industry and the state.
Operations at Porgera mine will continue while the application for the Special Mining Lease is revised, concerns about the delay in the approval of the Ramu 2 project, and Wafi-Golpu still before court. Your weekly digest of business news.
Papua New Guinea’s construction industry continues to face challenges, says Frank McQuoid, Chairman of manufacturer Steel Industries. But others say it is on the edge of a boom that will extend beyond the resource sector. David James examines both sides of the story.
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.
The March Monetary Policy Statement from the Bank of Papua New Guinea has urged the government to rethink the way it negotiates concessions and tax exemptions with new resources projects. Taking a strong position, it points to how previous agreements have been a factor in foreign exchange shortages and adverse trends in government finances.
Forex turnover more than K4b in October, call for joint PNG-Australia coastguard initiative, and one kina chocolate bar on sale locally. Your weekly digest of the latest business news.
Developers Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Papua New Guinea Government for the development of the Wafi-Golpu copper-gold mine in PNG’s Morobe Province. While the MOU indicates negotiations are proceeding well, there is still plenty of work to be done before the project gets a green light from government, local communities and investors.
Carolyn Blacklock, the acting Managing Director of PNG Power, says the money that will come from the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership established at APEC will greatly assist the roll out of electricity. She says PNG Power has sharply increased the number of connections it is making and is aiming to concentrate on hydropower.