By JOEL K ANDREW
The Department of Petroleum and Energy has launched the Petroleum Sector National Content Policy on Monday.
The whitepaper was previously approved by National Executive Council (NEC) on July 27.
Petroleum and Energy Minister Kerenga Kua said the policy sets in motion the national government’s aspirations to develop and utilise its national workforce and service supplier base, along with strategic community investments in the development of petroleum projects in the country.
During the recent petroleum and energy summit in Port Moresby, he said the policy is to guide the petroleum project developers to ensure an all-inclusive approach towards the growth and engagement of the country’s national workforce and its service supplier base.
Kua directed the department to facilitate the establishment of the project office to oversee the policy’s administrative arm and petroleum sector’s steering committee’s governance.
“The government’s position is that new natural gas project developments, including Papua LNG, P’nyang LNG and Pasca Gas must have national content plans that promote and develop the national government’s aspirations,” he said.
“These projects are an avenue to see more of our locals being recruited as our SMEs get involved and apprentices learn trades.
“The revenues earned can then circulate in the country to boost our national and provincial economies.”
The policy was developed from valuable lessons learnt during the development and establishment of the PNG LNG Project in early 2012.
Kua said the department is working towards ensuring that Papua New Guinea has a great stake has a greater stake in projects from now on.
He said with regards to the policy, a minimum of 33% of all petroleum and gas projects will be committed for national use.
Kua said Simon Sanagke has been appointed deputy executive to the Petroleum Sector National Content Office to oversee its operations.
Sanagke said the office will be working with Papua LNG operators to ensure joint venture partnerships with PNG companies is mandatory for the transfer of skills and expertise.
“We will be monitoring and collating data to report to the Trade Department, and work in ensuring that citizens have equal opportunity to secure work and contracts,” he said.
Kua lauded the industry for implementing their project national content programmes in the absence of a sector oriented national government policy.
He congratulated the state’s respective agency leaders and their technical working teams for their valued contributions in the formulation of the policy.