Author: Emmanuel MAIPE

Papua New Guinea (PNG) will continue to be a strategic location for investment in the resource sector given that the Asian markets are expected to increase their demands in energy and raw materials into the future. That was the assurance given by Prime Minister (PM) James Marape to stakeholders, investors, and potential resource sector investors at the very recent 2021 Mining and Petroleum Conference & Exhibition. Marape said PNG’s location is strategic that world class resource companies like ExxonMobil and Total have invested in the resource sector here, but probably the most important is the expected expansion of the Asian…

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A lot will be spent on the cost of the public service if the public service structure is not better managed by the government. This was the suggestion put forth by former Prime Minister and Member for Ialibu Pangia Peter O’Neill, when debating the 2022 National Budget in parliament today. Mr. O’Neill said the K13billion allocated to maintain the operational expenditure in the 2022 budget, which also covers the public service expenditure, is way too high. “In fact, it is more than what the revenue that the entire country got in 2021 to go to maintain public service structure,” said…

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The theme of the 2022 National Budget is “Lightening the Burden,” but some of the measures to take in the projected revenue of K16.1billion, could add burden to the people. One such measure is the introduction of the Banking Levy of K190 million, which is considered to impact people, especially the contributors of superfunds. According to Mr. Andrew Oaeke, the Acting Deputy Secretary Economic Policy of the Department of Treasury, there are a set of revenue measures that will be used to get that revenue in 2022. “They are categorized in three areas of Revenue Raising, Revenue Policies to Promote…

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Local Australian Football League (AFL) players will have the chance to represent the country in the national teams when the PNG AFL Commission hold the national championships next year to select potential players for the teams. According to the AFL Senior Football Operations Manager, Mr. Rex Leka, the selections for the train on squads for both the male and female teams should make way for the teams to participate in the 2023 AFL International Cup in Australia. Mr. Leka said the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the selections in the past two years with competitions having to postponed or even cancelled in…

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The government has put together a budget of K22.1billion with a focus on health, education and law and justice sectors. Treasurer Ian Ling-Stucky when presenting the budget, said these three sectors are vital at this time duet to the need in these sectors in the provision of service in all sectors of the community. Education got the highest of 45% of the budget, and health 43% while law and justice 2.9% of the budget. Meanwhile, the total budget for 2022 is 9.3% higher than the 2021 supplementary budget. Secretary of Treasury Dairy Vele, added that the Revenue envelop for 2022…

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PNG Power Ltd (PPL) is taking steps to put a stop to illegal connections and power theft by moving towards implementing something new that is being used by other countries in the world. PNG Power General Manager Retail, Mr. Kingston Albert, said the new devices should be brought into the country next year upon which PPL will commence roll out with the installations. “We are looking into installing smart meters with SIM cards in them and if there is tampering done, the system itself will automatically notify us,” Mr Albert said. “So, we are going towards that direction. Many countries…

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PNG Power Ltd (PPL) is sending a message to its customers in Port Moresby city that theft of electricity will be seriously dealt with, even if it means laying charges on the offenders. This was demonstrated yesterday afternoon when a foreign business owner was taken in for questioning by police upon PNG Power’s request after the business owner was alleged to have stolen electricity from PNG Power by tempering with a power meter box at his shop located at the Hohola suburb. PNG Power General Manager Retail, Mr. Kingston Albert, said the bust yesterday is part of the state-owned company’s…

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Parts of the Modilon General Hospital in Madang town went up in flames in the early hours of this morning destroying equipment and some documents but claiming no casualties or affecting too much of the service. According to the Director of Public Health of the Madang Provincial Health Authority, Dr. Martin Daimen, the parts that got burned down was the hospital library and part of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR) office, which lost some of the laboratory research equipment in the fire. He added that the hospital library used to be the old section B…

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The recent signing of the recommencement agreement between the National Government and Barrick Niugini Limited (BNL) has been welcomed by local businesses in the Porgera Valley in after the closure of the Porgera mine 18 months ago affected their operations. The President of the Porgera Valley Women in Business (WiB) and businesswoman, Mrs. Elizabeth Iarume, said it is great news because they have suffered for far too long. “People are welcoming the decision the prime minister has made but they must do it in a timely manner so that all the other agreements are met and signed off by the…

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Coca- Cola worldwide has made a new brand change to the iconic brand name, and that new look especially on the can, has now reached the shores of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Coca- Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) PNG General Manager, Mr. Philippe Mondada, said the new look tells consumers that the brand continues to produce the top product everyone around the globe loves for over 125 years. “From time to time every icon brand needs a bit of refreshing,” said Mr. Mondada. “We have a new design, and the purpose of the new design is basically to celebrate the authenticity…

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