Central Province has rejected the proposed Papua LNG benefit-sharing arrangements, seeking a 55-45 split with Gulf Province and arguing that its role as a co-host warrants a greater share of the project’s economic benefits. Central Gov. Rufina Peter presented the province’s Tier 1 position paper at the Papua LNG Forum in Port Moresby on Sept. 4, 2026. ...

Santos Ltd. will increase its participating interest in the Papua LNG project to 21% after agreeing to acquire an additional 3.3% stake from TotalEnergies as part of a broader restructuring of the project's ownership and operatorship. TotalEnergies has agreed with ExxonMobil to transfer operatorship of Papua LNG to ExxonMobil PNG Antelope Limited, whil...

Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd. has secured stronger governance and economic protections for Papua New Guinea under an amended agreement with TotalEnergies governing the joint marketing of LNG and gas volumes from the Papua LNG project. KPHL said it has executed the amended Shareholders Agreement with TotalEnergies covering Lakatoi Marketing Pte Ltd., th...

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 ...

Papua New Guinea has signed a revised Papua LNG Project Agreement aimed at strengthening the project’s commercial viability while protecting the State’s long-term fiscal interests, with a firm deadline now set for a Final Investment Decision (FID) by 15 December 2026. Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina said the revised agreement follows detailed negotia...

Papua New Guinea's petroleum sector has taken another step towards expanding local participation in the country's growing gas industry, with Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina approving the National Content Plan (NCP) for the Pasca A Gas Project. Maladina approved the plan following a technical review and compliance assessment by the National Petroleum ...

The Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) will resume the second Tuguba Regional Director Election after long-running leadership disputes among the remaining Tuguba clans were resolved through a court-supervised mediation process. MRDC said the resolution of disputes involving the Jugu, Tabu and Ware 2 clans marked the completion of its programm...

Prime Minister James Marape has assured landowners and provincial governments involved in the PNG LNG Project that their agreed equity interests will remain intact as the government finalizes a structure to manage long-term benefits from the country's flagship liquefied natural gas project. Speaking during Question Time in Parliament, Marape said the g...

Papua New Guinea expects the US$14.5 billion (approximately K58 billion) Papua LNG Project to reach a final investment decision (FID) before the end of 2026, as the government accelerates petroleum sector reforms aimed at attracting investment and expanding production. Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina announced the update during the PNG CORE National ...

The National Government has strengthened representation for communities affected by the Papua LNG project, with Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina assuring landowners and local leaders that every impacted district and province will have a voice during the Papua LNG Development Forum. Speaking at APEC Haus on Wednesday, 8 July, the Minister outlined the ...

Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) has committed K30 million under Papua New Guinea's Tax Credit Scheme to help fund the construction of the Sisimakam–P'nyang Road, a strategic infrastructure project that will provide road access to the proposed P'nyang LNG development. The 32-kilometre road carries an estimated cost of K150 million and is primarily financed th...

Papua New Guinea has welcomed the start of a major offshore oil and gas exploration campaign near Kupiano in Central Province, with Prime Minister James Marape saying the investment underscores international confidence in the country's energy sector. The exploration programme, led by TotalEnergies and its partner Petronas, involves the drilling vessel ...

ExxonMobil PNG Limited (EMPNG) recently marked a decade of biodiversity partnership under the PNG LNG Project, bringing together government representatives, conservation partners and stakeholders to celebrate progress and reaffirm a shared commitment to protecting the country's rich natural heritage. The mini-expo, held at Port Moresby Nature Park to c...

The upstream and downstream operators of the Papua LNG Project have been issued amended environmental permits by the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), following more than seven months of consultation between the regulator and project operators. The amended permits were presented on May 29, 2026, following extensive discussions i...

Hiri-Koiari MP Keith Iduhu has called for changes to the governance structure of the PNG LNG project's Kroton Equity Option (KEO), arguing that landowners hosting the project's liquefaction plant have been excluded from decision-making despite their contribution to Papua New Guinea's largest resource development. Speaking in Parliament on 3 June 2026, ...

Papua New Guinea is preparing to enter a new frontier in offshore petroleum exploration, with the country's first ultra-deepwater exploration well scheduled to be drilled within the next two months offshore between Central and Milne Bay provinces. The Mailu-1 exploration well, jointly developed by TotalEnergies EP Kundu Limited and PETRONAS, is regarde...