26/07/2026
𝗣𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦
Iran is unlikely to easily accept US demands, particularly because of its strategic relationships with 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮. Reports suggest that Iran may be receiving satellite imagery and intelligence support that could assist in identifying US military bases and strategic infrastructure across the Middle East. However, the full extent of this assistance remains disputed.
These tensions could continue into 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 and affect global fuel prices, shipping costs, inflation, food prices and the wider global economy on a scale not experienced in recent years.
The Middle East produces approximately 𝟯𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗶𝗹. In addition, a significant percentage of global LNG and petroleum trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any prolonged disruption to oil and LNG production, export terminals or shipping routes could therefore have serious consequences for countries around the world, including Papua New Guinea.
Iran is also accused of supporting regional armed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Attacks involving Israel, threats to oil-producing nations, shipping disruptions in the Red Sea and instability around the Strait of Hormuz could further destabilise the Middle East and interrupt global trade and energy supplies.
At the same time, the 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮–𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿, 𝗨𝗦–𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 and growing conflict involving countries allied with the United States are creating greater global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
𝗣𝗔𝗣𝗨𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗔 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗖 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦:
𝟭. 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
Our State Negotiating Team must not be pressured into rushing decisions concerning the 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝘂𝗮 𝗟𝗡𝗚, 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘁, 𝗣’𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗡𝗚 and other major petroleum projects.
PNG has demonstrated a strong track record through the PNG LNG Project and remains a comparatively lower geopolitical and security risk.
Our security challenges do not involve missiles, bombs, drones or attacks on international energy infrastructure like those currently affecting parts of the Middle East.
This strengthens PNG’s position as a 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for international energy investment.
Our negotiators must use this advantage to secure:
• Better fiscal and taxation terms;
• Stronger national participation;
• More employment opportunities for Papua New Guineans;
• Greater landowner benefits; and
• Maximum long-term value for the people of PNG.
𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
𝟮. 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗩𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗦
PNG must begin replacing a significant portion of its fossil-fuel transport fleet with electric vehicles, especially government, corporate, public-transport and airport fleets.
This will reduce our exposure to imported fuel-price increases, strengthen national energy security and help keep transport and operational costs under control.
Government agencies, companies and individuals should also prioritise qualified PNG-owned suppliers such as 𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, an RTA-licensed local vehicle dealer.
𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗦 𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗛 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗦:
• Creating employment opportunities for Papua New Guineans;
• Keeping more kina circulating within PNG;
• Developing local EV maintenance and charging expertise;
• Supporting communities and people back home;
• Empowering young people to say 𝗡𝗢 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲—and 𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆; and
• Building a stronger and more independent national economy.
When Papua New Guineans buy from locally owned businesses, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗡𝗚. That is how we create employment, strengthen local businesses and grow our economy.
Higher fuel prices, increased living costs, supply-chain disruptions and wider economic pressure may remain major risks in the coming months.
𝗣𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧, 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬, 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦, 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗨𝗘𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦.
