Mineral Resources Development Company has appointed Howard Lole as a director of Gas Resources Gigira Limited, completing the Tuguba region’s required representation on the board responsible for PDL 1 interests in the PNG LNG Project.
The Board of Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) announced on September 7, 2026, that Lole had been appointed director-elect representing the Tuguba region of Petroleum Development License 1 (PDL 1) on the board of Gas Resources Gigira Limited (GRGL).
GRGL is the corporate trustee responsible for managing the equity and royalty benefits associated with PDL 1 in the PNG LNG Project.
Lole’s appointment follows an election held on August 21 at the Port Moresby Hilton Hotel, where he and fellow candidate Eric Kambe finished tied. MRDC said the appointment was made after the prescribed electoral process and a comprehensive review by its board.
The MRDC Board determined that the applicable legal, governance and procedural requirements had been met before making the appointment in its capacity as shareholder.
Completing Tuguba representation
MRDC said the appointment was made pursuant to Section 176 of the Oil and Gas Act, the MRDC Authorization Act, the GRGL Constitution, the relevant Trust Deed and the GRGL Directors Election Rules.
Lole becomes the second director representing the Tuguba region on the GRGL Board, joining Libe Parindali, Thompson Mugubigo, Philip Iruka, Thomas Dara Ola and Larry Andagali, who represent landowner interests on the board.
His appointment brings more than 25 years of experience across the public and private sectors, including the financial, industrial and mining industries.
Lole currently serves as a director of Tolu Minerals Ltd and the TWL Group. He holds a degree in Mining Engineering from the PNG University of Technology and a master's degree in Engineering from the University of New South Wales, specializing in Mining Industry Management.
MRDC managing director Augustine Mano congratulated Lole on his election, highlighting his experience across business, oil and gas and mining.
“Mr. Lole comes to the board with extensive experience in business, the oil and gas, and mining sector,” Mano said.
“He is a well-respected leader in the industry who joins a board blessed with a wealth of experience which will add value to the governance and direction of the company going forward.”
Election process and outstanding benefits
Mano also thanked Kambe and the PDL 1 Tuguba Clan Chairmen for their participation in the electoral process.
He acknowledged the Independent Observers, Chief Magistrate, Electoral Commission and National Petroleum Authority for their involvement in the process, which MRDC said helped ensure the clan chairman and director elections were conducted fairly and transparently.
The appointment also comes as MRDC works toward distributing outstanding PDL 1 royalty and equity benefits to beneficiaries.
Mano reiterated MRDC’s commitment to having the outstanding benefits paid during 2026. The company will now begin work to establish the sub-clan bank accounts, which MRDC described as the final stage before royalty and equity benefits can be distributed to beneficiaries.
The completion of the Tuguba directorship requirement therefore marks both a governance milestone for GRGL and another step in the process toward distributing outstanding benefits from PDL 1.
