Prime Minister O'Neill welcomes Total SA into Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guina Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has singled out leading French investor Total SA’s entry into the LNG industry as one of the best signs of confidence in Papua New Guinea.

Mr O’Neill said Total’s choice to lead and push forward the next LNG project was a major economic windfall bringing in more benefits for the country.

Mr O’Neill said he believes that over the next five years the project will employ 10,000 Papua New Guineans in the construction phase.

He said it will also create new education and training programs and downstream benefits for thousands of small businesses. Major investors in the second LNG project also include InterOil and Oil Search Limited.

“The people of our nation need only look around their communities and towns to see the change that is happening in only a few short years as we have implemented the core policies we took to the 2012 election.

 We now have more children in school than at any other time in our history.  This also means there are more girls in school than ever before - and this will empower an entire generation of women.

We are expanding access to healthcare and more people are surviving from injuries and disease than ever before.  We thank our churches for their support in delivering healthcare support,” he said.

Mr O’Neill said he believes streets and communities around the country are becoming safer “as we have more police, better judiciary and true rehabilitation in the prisons.”

“Certainly we have more work to do on enhancing safety, particularly when it comes to modernizing our police, but this is a challenge we are meeting head-on,” Mr O’Neill said.

He said construction of new roads, ports, bridges, schools, teachers colleges and government buildings were strengthening the economy.

He said the billions of Kina spent on infrastructure was now generating trade and delivering jobs for the people.

He mentioned coming international events to be hosted by PNG including  the FIFA Women’s Under 20 World Cup in 2016 and the APEC Leaders’ summit in 2018.

“Each and every person in our nation is part of a very special community that has an evolving place in the world.  We are unique in our diversity and we are united in our desire to build a stronger nation,

May our Lord bring your family blessing, prosperity and happiness,” Mr O’Neill said.