Department of Petroleum and Energy Advertorial
An Update on the Petroleum Resources Sector in Papua New Guinea 12th January to 31st December 2022
generation, transmission and distribution to cover the entire country and its population is important for sustainable economic growth and improvement in the living standards and quality of life of the people of PNG. Despite having large energy resources potential, both renewable and non-renewable, such as oil, gas, hydropower, natural gas, geothermal and solar-based power systems, PNG suffers from energy poverty and has one of the lowest per capita consumption ratios of electricity in the world. But the country’s ability to provide electricity to the whole country and its population is constrained by lack of energy generation, transmission and distribution capacities. PNG’s rugged terrain, scattered rural villages,
MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER
HON. KERENGA KUA , LLB, MP Minister for Petroleum and Energy
I am honoured at this opportunity for my ministry and the Department of Petroleum to publish this report in the new year 2023 for public information, giving a full update about the operations of the petroleum sector in PNG during 2022.
PNG has been blessed with renewable energy resources as well as non-renewable petroleum resources, both are important and both are the responsibility of my ministry. The Department of Petroleum in conjunction with the National Energy Authority (NEA), as the regulator of the energy sector in the country, considers the development of the state’s energy resources to be among its highest priorities. It is committed to the development of these resources in a way that maximises the benefits to the people of PNG, while minimising social, environmental and economic costs. At the same time it recognises the need to develop the country’s energy resources in conjunction with developers including stakeholders. It is known for certain that the importance of energy and energy security cannot be undermined as energy plays a vital role in the social and economic development of a country – energy fuels economic growth, reduces poverty and improves the standards of living and quality of life of the people. Energy is key to industrialisation. To have in place a reliable, efficient and affordable system of energy
customary landownership issues, tribalism and lack of socio- economic development at the village level, among other issues, make it very challenging for Papua New Guineans to be exposed to opportunities to improve their quality of life. This is not an achievement we all want to be proud of nor an excuse to shy away from our responsibilities and obligations but, nevertheless, under my ministry and in line with the Marape-Rosso Government’s policy objectives, the department has taken measures not in a big way but certainly in small ways to understand the challenges and identify the opportunities, where we all can share the responsibility in shaping the industry together while reaping the fruits of our hard work, going forward. Despite the overwhelming challenges, the Government of PNG, under its Electricity Industry Policy (EIP) of 2011, National Energy Policy 2017-2027, Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and Vision 2050, has expressed the goal of attaining 70% access by 2030 and 100% access by 2050. On this note, during the 2018 APEC hosted in Port Moresby, Australia
VOLUME 34 2023
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