The Pasca A and P’Nyang developments are now in doubt
Papua New Guinea risks LNG ambitions
The county’s negotiating tactics are damaging its reputation among developers
Papua New Guinea’s clumsy attempts to secure greater returns from LNG projects continue to discourage investors, particularly as the country was already seen as challenging given its difficult terrain, limited infrastructure, frequent civil unrest, high level of corruption and potential for earthquakes. At least one major development—the Total-operated 5.33mn t/yr Papua LNG scheme—remains on track in the resource-rich island nation, while a smaller scheme—Pasca A—has become the latest project thrown into doubt by government negotiation tactics. The Papua LNG partners—comprising France’s Total (40.1pc), ExxonMobil-subsidiary InterOil (36.5pc) and ASX-listed Oil Search (22.8pc)—signed a fis
Also in this section
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
9 March 2026
Energy sanctions are becoming an increasingly prominent tool of US foreign policy, with the country’s growth in oil and gas production allowing it to impose pressure on rivals without jeopardising its own energy security or that of its allies, argues Matthew McManus, a visiting fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics
6 March 2026
The March 2026 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
