Papuan tactics continue to threaten foreign investment

Singapore-based Twinza Oil’s Papua New Guinea plans remain under threat as seeming favouritism towards state-owned Kumul Petroleum presents another blow to Pasca A ambitions

The Papuan government awarded the offshore Pandora licence to NOC Kumul Petroleum in early September—the fourth granted to the firm in less than five months. Petroleum minister Kerenga Kua said that for Kumul, the award is a “significant step forward in its mandate...and also fulfils the Marape-Basil [PNG’s prime minister and deputy, respectively] government’s greater vision of ‘Take Back PNG’.” Kumul Petroleum’s mandate is “to protect and optimise the value of the country’s petroleum resources...so that the people can benefit”, according to managing director Wapu Sonk. This apparent resource nationalism has already dealt a further blow to Singapore-based IOC Twinza Oil’s stalled plans for a