November 23, 2023 – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

TotalEnergies EP PNG (TEP PNG) as operator of the Papua LNG Project, have donated a Spectra Guardian 550Kva GENSET, laptops and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) equipment to Port Moresby Technical College (POM Tech).

This was done in light of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed earlier in March between TEP PNG, POM Tech and the Department of Higher Education, to address inconsistencies in power supply along with supplementary education equipment, to allow for a conducive workspace for all students.

TotalEnergies EP PNG (TEP PNG) as operator of the Papua LNG project, have donated a Spectra Guardian 550Kva GENSET, laptops and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) equipment to Port Moresby Technical College (POM Tech).

This was done in light of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed earlier in March between TEP PNG, POM Tech and the Department of Higher Education, to address inconsistencies in power supply along with supplementary education equipment, to allow for a conducive workspace for all students.

In attendance to witness the event was the Head of Societal Development for TotalEnergies Exploration and Production (EP), Ms. Claudine Chavee, who is in country this week from our Headquarters in Paris.

The Papua LNG project is pleased to offer support through items such as the GENSET and ICT equipment, which only stands to add value to the merit of a renowned institution such as POM Tech, in promoting the quality of education.

The Project remains committed to becoming a significant contributor to the country’s workforce development, in line with one of its three major pillars of its National Content Plan: promoting the employment and training of PNG citizens.

Renewing the understanding originally signed in 2019, scholarships are available to Secondary School graduates from Gulf and other regions, with the aim of enhancing their employability.

Over the past four years, around 200 young men and women from Gulf, have been sponsored by TEP PNG in various National Certificate courses, such as Electronics, Metal Fabrication Welding, Automotive electrical, Diesel and Heavy Equipment Fitting and plumbing to name a few.

While the original focus of the MOU, was centred on prioritising students from Gulf Province to build up the capacity of youths from the Project area, this has now been opened to the rest of the country in an effort to upskill young men and women on a national level.

“I would like to thank TotalEnergies PNG for their donation today and continued support towards the school and welcome especially, our distinguished guest, the Head of Societal Development for TotalEnergies E&P, who joins us from Paris, Ms Claudine Chavee” said POM Tech Principal Mr. Henry Wamaingu.

November 17, 2023 – AES Wharf, CBD, Papua New Guinea

In response to the recent flooding and king tides affected the local communities along the Purari River (Gulf Province), Papua LNG project launched a Disaster Relief Mission on November 2nd, to assist villages in its area of influence, with 30 tonnes of food rations and medicines.

In coordination with the Gulf Provincial Authority, the Project will also be providing relief efforts, to communities outside its area of influence.

In addition, in recognition of the need for Provincial and District Governments to improve the delivery of social services to Waterway communities, the Project has provided one dinghy each to the Baimuru Local Level Government (LLG) Administration, the Ihu LLG and the Kerema Disaster Office.

These three dinghies are being donated to assist these offices in their respective roles of providing social services to the Waterway communities.

The mission began at Apiope village, at the mouth of the Purari, with Project staff distributing food rations and medical supplies, which were specifically handed over to a Community Health Worker based at the aid post/health centre in the village or administered by the team doctor himself.

Food items such as rice, tuna, noodles and biscuits, as well as essential items such as buckets, mosquito nets, anti-malaria and water purification tablets, were donated to 15 identified villages along the Purari.

November 2, 2023 – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Local communities along the Purari River in Gulf Province, have been greatly affected by the recent flooding and king tides, destroying arable farming land, clean drinking water and land for shelter.

Josephine Keaia from Apiope describes the effect on day to day life after the flood:

“Taim flood ikam, mipla ol mama had lo painim fis na mekim wok saksak. Current lo wara i fast tumas na mipla had lo painim fis. Na saksak tu, mipla no paitim saksak bicos wara ino klin, tupla wik nau mipla stap lo haus. Lo side blo aid post, mipla nogat aid post, mipla sa pul no kanu o kisim dinghy na go lo narapla ples. Sampla lain ol filim skin hot, skin blo ol itchy na nus wara. Lo nau, mipla usim tank wara lo wasim ol baby na lo kuk. Flood i bagarapim ol garden blo mipla, olgeta samting, wara rausim”.

Jimmy Koivi expressed similar sentiments, he and his wife rely on their garden for income:

“During the flood we could see logs floating down the river. Planti diwai na planti ol banana kam down lo wara. Displa flood i mekim. Lo mi yet, banana em income blo me. Taim ol kamap mau now, misis blo mi sa wokim banana cake na salim, sampla taim mipla sa katim na salim lo ples”.

In response, Papua LNG (herein referred to as the Project) have launched a Disaster Relief Mission in line with the request from Gulf Provincial Disaster office for Papua LNG to assist those community close to our Project living along the small Purari up to Wabo (Uraru) and including Mapaio, with food rations and urgent medical supplies.

In coordination with the Gulf Provincial Authorities, the Project will look to provide some further logistics support to the Government when the Government is ready for the distribution of their flood relief efforts out to the wider affected Purari delta communities.

The mission will begin at Apiope village, at the mouth of the Purari, with Project staff distributing food rations and medical supplies, to be handed over to a Community Health Worker based at the aid post/health centre in the village. The Mission commenced with on Tuesday 1 November 2023, first with awareness followed by distribution.  

Josephine expressed her gratitude for the relief supplies in food and household goods: “Displa liklik halivim yupla kisim ikam lo kaikai, bai halivim mipla lo survive na givim taim lo ol garden blo mipla lo kam bek gen.”

“Nau yet, displa halivim kam, em bai relivim mipla na givim taim lo gaden lo recover. Mi tok tenk yu” said Jimmy Koivi about the disaster relief effort.

Donations will be carried out throughout 15 identified villages along the Purari, as a testimony of the Project’s value of standing together with the communities. 

Food items such as rice, canned food, noodles and biscuits, as well as essential items such as buckets, mosquito nets, anti-malaria, water purification tablets and milk formula are an example of the 30 tonnes worth of relief supplies currently being donated.

October 2, 2023 – Paris, France

On 2 October 2023, the French daily newspaper Le Monde published an article on the Papua LNG project in Papua New Guinea. The questions posed by the journalists were answered in detail. However, given the limited use of our responses in the article and in the interest of transparency, TotalEnergies has decided to publish its exhaustive answers.

1. This week, the International Energy Agency mentioned again that to keep global warming under 1.5°C, there must be no further investment in gas infrastructure. How do you justify this Project despite having committed to the Paris Agreement?

TotalEnergies’ ambition is to be a major player in the energy transition, committed to net zero by 2050, together with society. Our strategy is to continue providing the energy the world needs now, notably natural gas to replace coal, and to minimize its projects’ emissions, while responsibly and sustainably accelerating the transition to low carbon energy solutions.

This is how, in concrete terms, we support the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the context of sustainable development and the fight against poverty.

The Papua New Guinea project is consistent with this strategy: it is ideally located to supply liquefied natural gas to Asia, a region where demand for electricity is rising fast and where 85% of that electricity is currently generated from coal.

Replacing coal by natural gas to produce electricity will halve the CO₂ emissions.

2- When do you expect the final investment decision?

The final investment decision (FID) is expected in 2024.

3- What measures have been taken to reduce the Project’s carbon footprint? Can you confirm that the liquefaction trains will be supplied by a gas-fired power plant? Do these measures concern Scope 3?

On all its new projects, TotalEnergies seeks to use the best technology available to minimize emissions.

Specifically, in Papua New Guinea, two main measures are planned to minimize CO₂ emissions:

• Reinjecting the native CO₂ from the production wells from the first day of production: a world first on a project of this size,
• In the existing natural gas liquefaction plant, operated by ExxonMobil (PNG LNG project), the electric liquefaction trains will be supplied by a combined-cycle gas turbine and a photovoltaic farm (70 to 120 MW). The examination of this hybrid system is currently being finalized.

4- What measures are planned to reduce the Project’s ecological impact? How many hectares of forest will be cleared?

Papua LNG is fully committed to reducing the Project’s footprint to the strict minimum: two years of planning and design have led to a reduction in land take of over 30% compared to the initial plans. This involves maximum reuse of existing sites (the logistics base, the current PNG LNG liquefaction plant) and existing roads, and a development plan for the reforestation of the platforms, the pipeline routes and unused access roads following the construction phase. Detailed technical studies are still underway to pursue this effort.

Papua LNG also plans to go further than the target of zero net deforestation, which is TotalEnergies’ minimum commitment on all its new sites. An ambitious target has been set to plant 1,000 hectares in five years. In Kuriva, 125 hectares have already been planted, before the Project’s FID. We are working with the national forest authorities to develop a nursery to produce 500 hectares of saplings a year.

We have been proactive and pragmatic in launching further biodiversity initiatives, building other nurseries for the rarest species, creating a mangrove nursery and awareness center in view of creating a mangrove conservation area, and launching a training program for forest rangers. The creation of biodiversity conservation zones in direct connection with the areas impacted by the Project is currently under development, in line with international standards, and a first team of forest rangers is being recruited.

Papua LNG has also invited independent international and local experts, recognized for their contributions to the environment and socio-economic development, to work with the Project on a consultation panel. These experts are completely independent and are not being paid. They formulate recommendations, which are made public (www.papualng.com.pg). Working with our partners, our goal is to make Papua LNG best-in-class in terms of sustainability. Papua LNG is committed to building constructive, long-term relationships with its stakeholders and providing benefits for the country.

5- Do you plan to invest in renewable projects in Papua New Guinea?

There are several renewable projects under examination, in line with the Government’s renewables roadmap. These range from the installation of a photovoltaic plant of 70 to 120 MW supplying the liquefaction units to the offer of photovoltaic production for hotels, warehouses, production units and the mine, the free solarization of mini-networks for neighboring communities, the distribution of solar lamp kits, and charging of personal devices.

6- Have you secured the rights to lease all the land you need for the Project? If not, how much of it have you obtained?

Short-term leases for the concerned land were signed during the exploration and examination phases, now completed. Long-term contracts are being finalized with the same clans. The communities recognized by the government as landowners will also receive royalties in accordance with the benefit sharing agreement defined by the government.

The area concerned by the project is not very densely populated, and the villages concerned, along the rivers and the coast, are not directly impacted. There will be no population displacement.

7- How much of the gas produced will be exported overseas?

In line with the agreements signed between the Project’s partners and Papua New Guinea, 95% of the gas will be exported and sold on Asian markets, to meet the growing demand for LNG in Asia, and 5% of the gas will be sold on the domestic market to support the production that the country needs.

8- Some clan leaders erected a dam across the river to access the site and protest against the Project. Is that dam still in place? What do you think about this protest?

There was no blocking of the waterway by the communities, with which the Project is in close contact, specifically through the network of liaison officers known as Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and Village Liaison Officer (VLO), whose role is to explain the Project to the communities, and to feed back their expectations and any demands or concerns.

Papua LNG’s societal teams are constantly attentive to complaints about the use of the Purari River and have taken action to reduce the impact caused by its co-use to transport building materials to the Project (slower speed and lookouts in the prow of each ship).

These measures will be maintained during the Project’s construction phase and operation phase.

9- Is there really no financial risk to this Project at a time when the IEA is predicting a decline in demand for natural gas by the end of the decade?

Natural gas can replace coal for numerous applications (power generation, manufacturing, etc.), so it has an immediate positive impact, since its carbon emissions are half those of coal.

Flexible and easily dispatchable, natural gas is also an ideal partner for renewable energies, which are intermittent and seasonal by nature, for power generation. In addition, LNG has demonstrated its key role in connecting gas consuming countries with large natural gas resources.

TotalEnergies’ strategy is based on 5% annual growth in demand for LNG, largely driven by Asia, the world’s greatest user of coal, and Europe.

TotalEnergies is continuing to provide the energy the world needs, replacing coal by gas, while sustainably accelerating the transition to low carbon energy solutions.

September 26, 2023 – Kuriva, Central Province, Papua New Guinea

TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited as operator of Papua LNG, is fully committed to delivering an exemplary Papua LNG project, with a strong focus on sustainability, enhancing biodiversity and encouraging low carbon emission solutions.

In partnership with the USAID Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership Activity, Papua LNG embarked on a solar electrification project to provide a 42-kilowatt renewable energy mini-grid, to the St John Bosco – Kuriva Primary School and Kuriva Sub-Health Centre, commissioned today.

“Health and education are the backbone of our society; they ensure the future of the next generations” says Managing Director of TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited Mr Jean-Marc Noiray.

“I am pleased to inaugurate this solarisation project for the Kuriva Primary School and the Kuriva sub-health centre, which demonstrates, among the many social benefits, in addition to the jobs and value creation, that projects like ours can bring to our neighbouring communities so we may prosper together” he added.

Papua LNG is committed to improving the education and health services in its surrounding Project communities and in cooperation with the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA),

This relationship was further solidified through the signing of two pivotal agreements on August 22, 2023, between TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited and PNGFA, to progress Afforestation / Reforestation (A/R) and forest conservation activities at the Kuriva forestry station, in Central Province.

Additionally, PNGFA Chief Operating Officer Mrs Magdalene Maihua, together with Mr. Noiray, announced at the event, that the Kuriva communities will also benefit from a St John Ambulance, to be based at the Kuriva Health Centre as part of the project’s initiative. To commemorate the newly stationed ambulance service, the keys were ceremoniously handed over to the Member for Hiri-Koiari Hon. Keith Iduhu by the Assistant Chief of St John Ambulance Terence Torea and TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited Business Director Dr Sangkaran Ratnam.