• This project is predicted to double the gas exports of country and eventually turn the nation into an important energy player.
   
• Total will make a “National Content plan” to further set out local advances, develop access points on LNG pipeline and look into making a limited JV with Kumul, a local company.

Papua New Guinea, the nation in southwestern Pacific, reportedly announced that multibillion-dollar LNG project led by French multinational gas and oil company, Total S.A. has been approved. The project would now commence after the government cast aside demands to get the contract reworked to make it more beneficial for locals.

The Ministry of Petroleum of Papua New Guinea stated that the government has cleared Total to go ahead and work on the project with their complete potential.

This announcement was done after the sometimes-acrimonious interactions between the commercial partners Australia’s Oil Search, ExxonMobil as well as Total and the government over the terms and conditions of a $13 billion deal that was already signed.

Despite the prolonged insistence of government that the country’s experienced businessmen are aware of the fact that signed contracts can be opened again for reconsideration, Total-led companies seem to have offered a few binding or meaningful concessions.  

Total will make a “National Content plan” to further set out local advances, develop access points on LNG pipeline and further look into making a limited joint venture (JV) with Kumul, a local company.

This project is predicted to double the gas exports of country and would eventually turn the nation into an important energy player. However, there still is widespread doubt among locals about its impact, after the nationwide financial benefits promised by a previous LNG project did not successfully materialize.    

About Total:

Total S.A. is a global oil and gas firm established in 1924 and is counted among the seven top oil and gas companies in the world. The company is headquartered in Courbevoie, France.

Source credit: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/america/030919/papua-new-guinea-approves-vast-total-gas-project-despite-reservations.html