AUGUST 29 2022
The clean green energy projects initiative being championed by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape moves one step closer to take-off as he met the second time this month with Fortescue Future Industries South-East Asia President Allard M. Nooy in Port Moresby today (August 29 2022).
The Prime Minister used this opportunity to connect the company directly to the Government’s working team to get the project off the ground, which he wants to see happen within 2022 and 2023.
The meeting follows from the first PM Marape and Mr Nooy held in Singapore earlier this month during the PM Marape’s short visit to the country some days after his election.
At the meeting this morning, Prime Minister Marape reassured Mr Nooy that he stood ready to speak at the high-level arena, while directing the State Negotiating Team to work with the company in processing the mechanisms needed to get the first project off the ground. The Prime Minister also committed the relevant agencies of the State to assist FFI progress this work immediately.
PM Marape then came in strong with his reassurance that at the high-level, he would speak with the founder and owner of the company Dr. Andrew Forrest and proceed in making connections to markets in countries that have existing bi-lateral relations with Papua New Guinea.
He highlighted Papua New Guinea’s strategic location in relation to the economies of both ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) nations, many of whom already have existing bi-lateral ties with PNG.
He said with very high populations in these countries and PNG having all the right conditions to produce energy and food, the country was appropriately placed to contribute to both energy and food security in the region.
PM Marape said: “At the high-level, if you want someone to market these things for you, our Government can market for you using the bi-lateral connections. We have strong relationship with China since 1975; with US at the bi-lateral level, with South Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia. These are big economies.
“We are rightly placed to advocate for green energy. That is our competitive advantage. African nations do not have this; they are too far but we are right here. And we are here to support you.
“We are ready to assemble a team. So by 2023, we not in concept anymore but get some project going.”
PM Marape once more reassured the company on the opportunities available in Purari River, Gulf Province and the geothermal springs of West New Britain Province where the company has already established working sites based under two heads agreement signed between the State and FFI last year.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s office at Sir Manasupe House, was attended by Minister for Petroleum and Energy Hon. Kerenga Kua; Governor for West New Britain, Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel; Member for Rabaul, Hon. Graham Pinau Rumet; and Head of the State Negotiating Team Dairi Vele. President Nooy was accompanied by FFI PNG representative, Andy Hetra.
