P’nyang to be standalone project: Pok

Minister for Petroleum, Fabian Pok, says the P’nyang Gas Field will be a standalone project and not an expansion of the PNG LNG Project.

He said that is the understanding of the Government.

Minister Pok said this in Parliament in response to the announcement by ExxonMobil of the increased gas resource at the P’nyang gas reserve.

The Minister was questioned by North Fly MP, James Donald, over a contradiction to a statement last year.

Donald said while Minister Pok said the P’nyang will be a standalone project, ExxonMobil says it will be part of a three-train expansion concept for the PNG LNG, with one train dedicated to gas from P’nyang.

ExxonMobil announced on Wednesday that the size of the natural gas resource at the P’nyang field has increased to 4.36 trillion cubic feet of gas, an 84 percent increase from a previous assessment completed in 2012, following an independent recertification assessment.

Minister Pok said he will have to get a full briefing on P’nyang but said it was the understanding of the Government that it was to be a standalone project.

Pok said once the briefing is done, he will present to Minister Donald and members of the Western Province a report.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole