InterOil Corporation (InterOil) along with its joint venture partners, Petromin PNG Holdings Limited and Pacific LNG Operations Ltd., have submitted a project agreement for the construction of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Port Moresby to the Papua New Guinea government.
Both the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare, as well as the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, William Duma, have stated their support for the proposed project and associated agreement. As previously announced, the proposed LNG project targets a $6.0 billion two-train LNG facility, with each train capable of producing approximately 4 million tons of LNG per annum. Current plans call for first production of LNG towards the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015.
“We are pleased with the support that our proposed project and associated agreement have received from key government officials,” said Phil Mulacek, Chief Executive Officer of InterOil. “By creating thousands of new jobs and other economic benefits, InterOil’s project has the potential to provide significant prosperity to the people of Papua New Guinea for years to come.”
The proposed LNG project is expected to have competitive investment returns compared to other projects under consideration in the region. In particular, the high total volume of liquid content of the hydrocarbon resources estimated at the Elk/Antelope field as well as existing infrastructure in place, including the 99-year lease on government owned land for the LNG facility, deep-water harbour rights, jetty system with two berths for loading and off-loading ships, electricity, housing and roadways support the cost-competitiveness of the project and are expected to enhance investment returns when compared with other projects under consideration in the region. Additionally, InterOil’s wells in the Elk/Antelope field are located in moderate foothills terrain, close to the coast and LNG plant site at Port Moresby, low in contaminants, and geographically protected from most weather disruptions.
At least 5,000 jobs are expected to be created at peak construction of the InterOil facility. Economic returns from the project are expected to help fund public infrastructure and community services in Papua New Guinea, such as education and health, and provide income to land owners.
In addition to the previously noted support received from the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, the proposed project and associated agreement are also supported by other key members of the Papua New Guinea government. To support the project agreement, InterOil has recently provided two separate independent resource evaluations, one developed by GLJ Petroleum Consultants Ltd. and one developed by Knowledge Reservoir.
“Based on two separate independent resource evaluations prepared for InterOil and recently provided to Papua New Guinea officials, as well as the Company’s own results attained to date, InterOil believes that the likelihood of further successful exploration efforts for more gas and gas condensate, and for the potential discovery of oil in commercial quantities, have increased,” continued Mulacek. “Like the Prime Minister, we recognize how important this project is to the development and reputation of Papua New Guinea. We remain committed to moving forward with this project and support the Prime Minister’s recent call for two projects to be developed at the same time.”