The Government has appointed Johnson Pundari as the new acting chief executive officer of the Konebada Petroleum Park Authority (KPPA), tasking him with reviewing the future use of key State-owned land earmarked for industrial development.
The Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru, who is also the minister responsible for KPPA, welcomed the appointment and described Mr Pundari as a competent and seasoned executive capable of leading the authority through a critical transition period.
Maru said the immediate priority for the acting CEO was to establish the exact extent of land held by KPPA and to present strategic options to the Government on its future use.
“We cannot continue to sit on this land,” the minister said, adding that Pundari had been directed to provide clear recommendations on the way forward.
The Konebada Petroleum Park was originally designated for downstream processing associated with liquefied natural gas projects. However, Maru said the Project Development Agreement for the PNG LNG project did not allow for a domestic market obligation, limiting the feasibility of such plans.
He noted that while the Papua LNG project would include a five per cent domestic market obligation, its processing facilities would need to be located in Gulf Province, where the gas resources are situated. He also pointed to other gas developments in the province, including the Pasca A gas project, the Wildebeest development project and stranded field developments.
“With all the gas reserves in the province into the future, Gulf rightly should have the processing plant. This will be a very important impact project for them,” Maru said.
As a result, he said the Government was considering alternative uses for the KPPA land, including the development of a major industrial park for Port Moresby as a special economic zone, particularly targeting the manufacturing sector.
Such a development could support export processing and import replacement industries, supported by the site’s close proximity to the new wharf, the minister said.
“These are some of the strategic options that the new acting CEO will look into,” Mr Maru added. “He has been tasked to submit his plans to the Government within three months.”
Pundari’s appointment comes as the Government seeks to accelerate industrial development and maximise the economic value of State assets amid growing regional competition for manufacturing and logistics investment.
