AG Investment Limited have formally awarded three professionals with K20,000 scholarships each in a ceremony yesterday at the University of Papua New Guinea, to do their post graduate studies in China Three Gorges University (CTGU) .

UPNG Earth Sciences Division and China Three Gorges University (CTGU) College of Geotechnical Engineering and Architecture, in collaboration with their strategic industry partner, AG investment, formally awarded three MSc Scholarship to successful applicants Jeffery Maxion, Ken Bush, and Augustine Emmanuel.

Jeffery Maxion, from Gumine in Simbu is an engineering geologist with the Geological Survey Division o of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA). Under another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with MRA and UPNG, and with the understanding of Acting Managing Director Harry Kore, Jeffery will undertake his MSc degree whilst working.

Ken Bush from Kandep in Enga is a Junior Mine Geologist of K92 Mining Incorporated. August Emmanuel from Kugua-Erave in Southern Highlands Province is a Mine Engineer of Mobile ExxonMobil. They have both resigned from their jobs to pursue their studies.

This career pathway program was made possible after a MoU between CTGU and UPNG was signed earlier this year in July.

The MSc students will enroll at UPNG focusing on Engineering Geology or Geotechnical Engineering, which is applied to construction of hydropower dam construction, including boring tunnels and other related fields. Additionally, they will engage in research projects in Papua New Guinea and have co-supervisor(s) from and do some non-degree courses at CTGU College of Geotechnical Engineering and Architecture.

The MSc programs will be research based, with publication in refereed journals as a critical pre-requisite for graduation, and on the project sites operated by the sponsor- AG Investments.

AG Investments Managing Director, Allan Guo, said he was proud to sponsor this program and hopes to have local experts in all areas of Geo- Science.

“I am happy to sponsor this. I have noticed that PNG has few Geotechnical, Hydrology experts and decided to do something about it by sponsoring this. It means a lot to the Geo-science especially in Geo- science training to have such pathways that would create more experts.”

Associate Professor and head of UPNG Earth Sciences Division, Joseph Espi, thanked AG Investment and emphasized the importance of the partnership between UPNG, CTGU and AG investment.

“Such partnership will significantly assist in training, developing and graduating better engineering geologists, geotechnical engineers, hydrogeologists and environmental engineers to cater for strategic opportunities at mine operations and in infrastructure development space in Papua New Guinea and rest of the world.” He stated.

AG Investment Limited has been involved in the development of hydropower stations in PNG for over 20 years and now operates Edevu hydropower station at the headwaters of Brown River in Central Province, which supplies about 40% of Port Moresby’s power need.