Oil Search Managing Director Peter Botten, one of the people at the centre of the development of liquefied natural gas in Papua New Guinea, has been awarded Australia’s highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia, for eminent service to Australian-PNG relations, particularly in the oil and gas industry.
In the Australian honours system appointments to the Order of Australia confers the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service to Australia or humanity at large.
Oil Search Chairman Rick Lee congratulated Botten on the award as recognition of his “heartfelt and long-standing commitment to building corporate-community relationships” in Papua New Guinea.
“Mr Botten has led the company with strength and integrity for 25 years,” he said.
“Peter’s leadership is held in very high regard for making a difference in PNG - not only from an industry level but at a very personal level too,” added the Chairman.
The PNG LNG plant, located northwest of Port Moresby is operated by ExxonMobil and Oil Search is one of the shareholders in the plant as well as the gas resources for a planned expansion.
Oil Search is the main player in the PNG oil fields, which also provide associated gas for the LNG plant.
PNG LNG currently produces almost 9 million tonnes per annum from its two existing liquefaction Trains and will more than double output with the addition of three new Trains.
“As managing director, Peter has fostered a culture within Oil Search that focuses on doing the right thing - not just for shareholders but for all stakeholders, especially local communities in PNG,” he explained.
“Under his leadership, Oil Search remains committed to addressing important social issues and aspiring to set the standard for private sector contribution to sustainable development. He has promoted deep relationships between PNG and Australia by championing initiatives that have built trust and understanding in both countries,” stated the Chairman.
The PNG government and the owners of the licences for feed-gas to expand LNG in the Oceania nation are expected to give the go-ahead for the joint venture by the end of March.
Australian Securities Exchange-listed company Oil Search, whose main assets are in PNG, has just outlined the latest plans in its fourth-quarter earnings report.
An accord was signed between the Petroleum Retention License 15 joint venture and the PNG Government in November, detailing the key terms and conditions to apply to the Papua LNG Gas Agreement.
“The Government and the PRL 15 and PRL 3 joint ventures are targeting to finalise both the Papua LNG and the P’nyang Gas Agreements before the end of March 2019, which will enable an integrated front-end engineering and design entry decision to be taken for the proposed three-Train LNG expansion,” said Oil Search.
