Houston, Texas | Wednesday, 9 July 2025 –
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, met with top executives from ExxonMobil Corporation at the company’s global headquarters in Houston to advance several of the country’s major LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects.
This important high-level meeting focused on strengthening collaboration on three key projects:
-
Papua LNG
-
P’nyang LNG
-
Wildebeest Gas Project
Key Leaders in Attendance
Representing ExxonMobil:
-
Darren W. Woods, Chairman & CEO
-
Dan L. Ammann, President, Upstream Oil & Gas
-
Peter Clarke, SVP, Global LNG
-
Dinesh Sivasamboo, Chairman & MD, ExxonMobil PNG
Representing Papua New Guinea:
-
Prime Minister James Marape
-
Hon. Jimmy Maladina, Minister for Petroleum
-
Hon. Rainbo Paita, Minister for Mining
-
Dairi Vele, Chairman, State Negotiating Team
-
Daniel Rolpagarea, State Solicitor
-
Augustine Mano, MD, MRDC
ExxonMobil Reaffirms Commitment to PNG's LNG Sector
Prime Minister Marape described the meeting as “substantive, productive, and forward-looking.” He confirmed that ExxonMobil is fully committed to moving forward with its LNG investments in PNG, which are crucial for job creation, infrastructure development, and economic growth.
“ExxonMobil reaffirmed its commitment to the sequencing and development of Papua LNG, P’nyang LNG, and Wildebeest,” said Prime Minister Marape.
The company emphasized that all three projects remain in its strategic investment portfolio, with a clear plan to develop them in sequence — ensuring consistent momentum in the sector over the next 10 to 15 years.
Papua LNG Project Moving Toward Final Investment Decision (FID)
An update was provided on the Papua LNG project, where TotalEnergies is the lead operator. While cost pressures were acknowledged, all partners — including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Kumul Petroleum Holdings — are working together to overcome challenges.
A joint meeting with the PNG Government and all stakeholders is being scheduled to resolve outstanding issues and move the project towards Final Investment Decision (FID).
New Interest in Wildebeest Gas Project
ExxonMobil also discussed its ongoing exploratory activities in the Wildebeest field, a promising new gas prospect in PNG. The company expressed strong interest in working with the Government to assess the site's full potential.
A Decade-Long Pipeline of Opportunity
Prime Minister Marape reaffirmed the government's preference for a sequenced rollout:
-
Papua LNG
-
P’nyang LNG
-
Wildebeest
“This approach ensures a stable investment environment, long-term construction momentum, and continuous employment opportunities for Papua New Guineans,” he explained.
This development timeline is expected to support a decade of sustained economic growth, offering major benefits to communities across the country.
PNG Talent at ExxonMobil HQ
One inspiring moment during the visit came when Prime Minister Marape met six Papua New Guineans now working at ExxonMobil’s global HQ in Houston.
“As former Education Minister, I helped launch training programs to equip our people to run major projects like PNG LNG,” said PM Marape. “It’s a proud moment to see our citizens now leading and contributing at the global level.”
He thanked ExxonMobil for supporting PNG’s workforce and called for more global opportunities for skilled professionals from Papua New Guinea.
Next Stop: Washington, D.C.
Without pause, Prime Minister Marape departed for Washington, D.C. to continue his overseas mission. He will meet with senior U.S. Government officials and executives from Newmont Corporation to further promote foreign investment in PNG’s mining and resource sectors.
A Vision for Shared Growth
Prime Minister Marape closed his Houston visit with a message of gratitude and hope:
“These LNG projects must deliver long-term value to our people. With trusted partners like ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, we believe this is possible. The next 50 years must be about prosperity, sustainability, and opportunity for all Papua New Guineans.”
Why This Matters for PNG
Papua New Guinea's future is closely tied to responsible resource development. Strategic partnerships with global energy leaders, like ExxonMobil, can help deliver jobs, infrastructure, skills training, and revenue — all while respecting environmental and community needs.
Stay connected for more updates on PNG’s growing LNG industry and what it means for you.