US Coast Guard Joins Papua New Guinea Maritime Security Operation
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has invited the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) to join their lead in maritime operations to combat illegal fishing and safeguard maritime resources during August 2023.This marks the first time a joint patrol effort will be executed at sea since the signing and ratification of the recent bilateral defense agreement between PNG and the US, which allows the US to embark shipriders from PNG agencies aboard the ship to conduct at sea boardings on other vessels operating in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).The move emphasizes PNG’s commitment to maritime domain awareness…
First LNG Cargo Loaded from Exxon PNG Project
LNG carrier Spirit of Hela, which is jointly owned by MOL and Itochu Corporation, has left Papua New Guinea carrying the first LNG cargo from the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG Project, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced. The PNG LNG Project is Papua New Guinea’s first ever LNG project, and it will provide long-term supply of gas to customers in Japan and other countries. The vessel loaded LNG at the Project’s Marine Terminal, which is located near Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. The first cargo will be delivered to Tokyo Electric Power Company. On May 14, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill visited the vessel for a tour.
Exxon's $19 Bln PNG Plant could change country's fortune
ExxonMobil's $19 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Papua New Guinea, which is shipping its first cargo, is set to dramatically transform one of Asia-Pacific's most unstable countries, for better or for worse. The LNG venture, which is expected to produce more than 9 trillion cubic feet of gas over 30 years, is the largest private investment in the South Pacific nation's history. ExxonMobil is relying on projects like this one for much-needed production growth, while the Papua New Guinea government hopes it might double its $15 billion dollar economy, now slightly larger than Botswana's. But sharing the spoils of resource projects has previously torn apart a country that is seen as one of the most corrupt in the world…
Deep Sea Mining Agreement Reached
The opening of the world's first mine in the deep ocean comes closer to reality as Canadian mining company, Nautilus Minerals, signs an agreement with the Papua New Guinea Government to start excavating an area of seabed. The project will extract ores of copper, gold and other valuable metals from a depth of 1,500m, The mine will target an area of hydrothermal vents where superheated, highly acidic water emerges from the seabed, where it encounters far colder and more alkaline seawater, forcing it to deposit high concentrations of minerals. The result is that the seabed is formed of ores that are far richer in gold and copper than ores found on land.
Bidding for PNG’s Offshore Oil Leases On
The Papua New Guinea Government received confirmation of global interest in bidding for 15 exploration blocks in the Gulf of Papua when 60 executives from more than 30 international oil and gas companies attended their inaugural road show in Singapore. The companies included the big British Gas Group, ChevronTexaco, CNPC of China, Hunt Oil Company, Korea Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi, Nippon, Pearl Energy Ltd, Petronas, Premier Oil, Repsol and Singapore Petroleum. Sir Moi told the audience that the area was selected because of their newly recognised prospectivity and proximity to onshore discoveries as well as finds in the offshore Papuan sedimentary basin.
