Highlights of the 16th PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum Conference 2022

By: MARCELLE P. VILLEGAS

Last year, the 16th Papua New Guinea Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference and Exhibition was held from 5th to 7th of December 2022 at Sydney Hilton Hotel. The event was hosted by the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Mines and Petroleum with the theme “PNG Resources: Securing the next wave of responsible investment”.

There were over 1,000 delegates from industries related to global hydrocarbon, minerals, and energy industries. Other participants are government officials, landowners, and those from the international investment sectors. [1]

The conference seeks to highlight investment and development opportunities that PNG can offer.

Honorable James Marape (MP)PNG Prime Minister, provided the keynote address on Day 1. Other notable speakers include Mr Anthony Smaré - President of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Pat Conroy - Australian International Development Minister, Honorable Ano Pala (MP) - Minister for Mining (PNG Government), and Honorable Kerenga Kua (MP)

- Minister for Petroleum (PNG

Government).

In Mr Anthony Smaré’s opening address, he mentioned that foreign investments play a significant role in the development of PNG and have a catalysing impact on the PNG’s economic development.

He stated that the country has five major projects coming up including the Papua LNG Project, Wafi-Golpu, Pasca, and the reopening of Porgera and P’nyang.

In his speech, Prime Minister

James Marape encouraged investors on PNG’s potential, and inspired partnerships in development on the ground.

He said, “We are a mineral and petroleum nation. We know how to give incentives, embrace and protect investors, and allow investors to make a fair and profitable return on their investments.”

“The next wave or first waves of responsible investments, or I would rather say ‘responsive investments’, are our big five projects that my