Outgoing Chamber director commended

Outgoing executive director of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, Greg Anderson, has been commended for painting a rosy picture about the industry upon his exit.

In a statement, the PNG Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative National Secretariat said: “Greg Anderson, who has been at the helm of the industry peak body since 1989, said he was confident the next generation of resource projects will distribute prosperity to a much larger proportion of Papua New Guinea.

“He noted that for the first time in PNG history, exports earned from the industry just topped over K20 billion in 2016 out of the total export worth K24.8 billion.”

In the chamber’s bi-monthly Mining and Petroleum Review, released on June 7, Anderson said:  “While much of the past develop­ments are regarded by economists and others as ‘enclave’ projects, I feel confident that the next genera­tion of resource projects is about to change that perception.

“The PNG LNG Project and the me­ga-projects now on PNG’s drawing boards will distribute prosperity to a much larger proportion of Papua New Guineans,”

Anderson said the mining ventures, as well as the quantities of gas that were available, would see a vast increase in electricity generation so that most people liv­ing in towns and some villages will have access to power in the next ten to fifteen years.

Head of PNGEITI National Secretariat, Lucas Alkan, said: “We are equally confident as Mr Anderson of a bright future the mining and petroleum sectors hold for the Papua New Guinea economy.

“This is a good message for Papua New Guinea from someone who knows better about the extractive industry.

“We at the PNGEITI are excited to be part of these exciting times ahead by promoting transparency and accountability in the mining and petroleum sectors through our EITI annual reporting process.”

Author: 
Cedric Patjole