Prime Minister Marape Visits Gulf Province for LNG Project Discussions
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Prime Minister Marape Visits Gulf Province for LNG Project Discussions
- On September 5, 2026, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape traveled to Gulf Province, emphasizing the region's role in the upcoming Papua LNG and Wildebeest LNG projects.
- The visit included a stop at Apanaipi village, a location that has been part of a boundary dispute between Central and Gulf Provinces.
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Prime Minister James Marape journeyed into Papua New Guinea’s Gulf Province on September 5, 2026, crossing the border from Central Province at approximately 6:08 AM and stopping at Apanaipi village. This visit underscores the significant focus on the Gulf Province, particularly in light of major liquefied natural gas (LNG) developments.
The Prime Minister has urged Gulf Province residents to prepare for the economic opportunities presented by the Papua LNG Project and the Wildebeest LNG Project, which are expected to bring substantial development to the region. Construction phases for Papua LNG are projected to span from 2026 through 2028. Marape envisions local businesses, especially in agriculture and fisheries, supplying goods and services to these projects.
Discussions have also included the development of key infrastructure, such as ports in strategic locations like Kerema, Ihu, Paia, and Kikori, to support the logistics of these large-scale projects. Additionally, the government has approved a contract exceeding K150 million for paving a section of the Hiritano Highway, a vital link connecting Central, Gulf, and Morobe provinces to the country’s economic heart and the LNG projects.
The village of Apanaipi, where the Prime Minister stopped, has been a point of contention regarding provincial boundaries, with claims from both Central and Gulf Provinces. Despite this, the focus of the Prime Minister’s visit remains on the transformative potential of the LNG projects for Gulf Province.