The prime minister’s address is scheduled to be followed by the Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch on PNG’s 2015 budget and economic outlook.
ExxonMobil’s Peter Graham will also speak in the morning session on the transition from construction to production by the PNG Liquefied Natural Gas Project and will be followed by the senior vice president for Total Asia Pacific, Jean-Marie Guillermou, on the proposed Elk-Antelope LNG project.
Talisman will follow on its plans for a possible third LNG project based on gas resources in Western Province.
Although the number of attendees is likely to be less than the record numbers at the 12th PNG Mining and Investment Conference in 2012, we believe this is the first time the conference has attracted representatives from many other countries besides PNG and Australia. At the last count representatives from 16 other countries had registered.
The mining sector is currently facing challenges but two mega projects appear to be making headway - the Golpu copper-gold venture of Harmony Gold and Newcrest and PanAust is progressing towards completion of a feasibility study on the Frieda River copper-gold venture. As usual there will be updates provided on all major mining ventures.