As Operator of the Papua LNG project, TotalEnergies EP PNG limited (TotalEnergies), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) on Wednesday, March 18 aimed at strengthening engineering education and fostering future talent in Papua New Guinea.
The partnership will support four (4) final year Engineering students (2 females and 2 males) to achieve an internationally accredited engineering degree, at Unitech. The students will be from the Gulf Province, location of the upstream Papua LNG project, and Central Province. The 2026 support is valued at PGK 130,400 and TotalEnergies is committed to supporting such programs beyond this year.
The event was an achievement attended by Professor Ora Renagi the Vice Chancellor of PNG University of Technoloy and Mr Arnaud Berthet Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP PNG, who both signed the MOU partnership, ensuring the four academicaly high performing students, will receive quality engineering degrees.
In support of the MOU partnershp signing were noteabley distinguished guest, included Mr Simon Sanagke the National Petroleum Agency (NPA) Executive at National Content, Health Safety Sustainability and Environment (HSSE) Director at TotalEnergies EP PNG Ms Claire Viaud, Mr Kaul Gena Member of the Governing Council Mr Kaul Gena and Unitech Board; and Mr Benedict Mick CEO of the Institute of Engineers PNG.
Mr Arnaud Berthet expressed TotalEnergies’s commitment to supporting the education of students from the Gulf province through such university pathways.
Professor Ora Renagi stated his appreciation of the partnership saying “Unitech is very proud to partner with TotalEnergies and we embrace the partnership. We have a vision of providing world class education, to positively impact the lives of our people. Standards of higher education should translate into higher standards in people’s lives.”
In addition HSSE Director Claire Viaud highlighted the renewed commitment of TotalEnergies to engineering excellence stating “As we look ahead to the construction and operations phases of the Papua LNG Project, strong engineering capabilities will be crucial for PNG’s future.”
TotalEnergies has worked closely with Unitech to identify high achieving students from the project area of influence, who have shown commitment and dedication to their studies during their time at university. Such qualities are important at university and will translate into a winning formula once in the highly competitive job market in PNG. TotalEnergies remains committed to supporting education initiatives at Unitech to ensure PNG talent is developed for the prosperity of the nation as a whole.
