Students studying Earth sciences and mining engineering in Papua New Guinea will now have access to cutting-edge reservoir modelling software, thanks to a major donation from the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC).
The TNavigator software, widely used by global resource operators for subsurface modelling, has been provided to the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech). The software, valued at over one million kina, will be integrated into the curricula of UPNG’s Earth Science Division and Unitech’s School of Mining Engineering.
MRDC Managing Director Augustine Mano said the initiative is part of the company’s broader commitment to capacity building and workforce development in the extractive sector.
“As part of the extractive industry, we believe it’s our responsibility to support the next generation of PNG engineers and geoscientists,” Mano said. “This donation ensures that our students are industry-ready and familiar with the advanced tools they will encounter in the workforce.”
The software includes tutorial packages that allow students to build practical skills in reservoir simulation—an area central to oil and gas exploration and production. Access to such high-end tools is often limited in developing countries due to licensing costs and technical constraints.
For PNG’s universities, the donation represents a step forward in aligning academic training with industry standards. It also reflects a growing recognition of the role of private sector partnerships in strengthening the country’s higher education and research ecosystem.
The move comes amid ongoing calls for more meaningful investment in technical education to prepare PNG’s youth for roles in key industries, particularly as the country seeks to localise technical expertise in resource project management and reduce dependence on foreign consultants.
By equipping students with TNavigator, MRDC is not only supporting education but also contributing to long-term national goals of human resource development and economic self-reliance.