The Prime Minister (PM) of New Zealand Christopher Luxon is arriving this evening in Port Moresby city to commence his official three (3) day official visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prime Minister James Marape confirms that PM Luxon, Prime will start his official visit today, Monday, 4th August and wrapping it up on Wednesday 6th August. Marape said this visit heralds a major season of diplomatic engagement as PNG gears up to commemorate its 50th Independence Anniversary. Prime Minister Marape hailed the visit as a defining moment in bilateral relations, underscoring New Zealand’s long-standing support for Papua New Guinea’s development, security, and regional stability. “New Zealand has stood with Papua New Guinea since we gained independence,” Prime Minister Marape said. “From education and climate resilience to trade and governance, their steadfast support has been foundational.” Prime Minister Luxon is expected to arrive at 6PM at the APEC Terminal where his will be received by a Ceremonial Guard of Honor Parade and a nineteen (19) Gun Salute. Visit Programme: High-Level Ceremonies & Parliamentary Address is as follows, • Monday, 4 August (evening): State Dinner honoring Prime Minister Luxon hosted by the Government of PNG. • Tuesday, 5 August (morning): Address to the National Parliament of PNG, followed by bilateral discussions on trade, climate resilience, labour mobility, and infrastructure development. • Wednesday, 6 August: Farewell ceremony for Prime Minister Luxon prior to his departure from Port Moresby. “This visit is more than ceremonial—it will fortify people-to-people links, government partnerships, and economic collaboration,” Prime Minister Marape said.

The BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) was given a prestigious recognition for its Wantok Wallet financial service for bridging the financial inclusion gap in the country. BSP accepted the 2025 Service Member Recognition Award from the PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNGCORE) on Thursday 31st July in Port Moresby city at the conclusion of the three-week PNGCORE Resource Week program. Launched in February 2025, Wantok Wallet enables secure, card- less transactions via mobile phones — without requiring a bank account, internet access, or even a smartphone. This innovation has empowered thousands of workers and families in resource-rich regions to manage their finances with greater ease and security. Penelope Aisi, BSP Program Manager with Retail’s Customer Value Management Team received the award, thanking PNGCORE for recognizing their commitment to partnership, economic development, and community empowerment. “BSP has proudly served Papua New Guinea for over 68 years, growing to become one of the region’s most trusted financial institutions with operations across seven Pacific markets. The bank’s enduring purpose — to champion progress and prosperity — is exemplified in the Wantok Wallet initiative,” Ms. Aisi added. Since its launch, over 74,000 Wantok Wallets have been opened, a testament to the service’s vital role in providing safe, accessible digital financial services to underserved populations, particularly those without formal identification in rural and remote areas. The Wantok Wallet also recently received the Innovation PNG 2025 Awards, with Penelope Aisi and her team recognized for their leadership in delivering this inclusive financial solution. As a dedicated service member of PNGCORE, BSP reaffirms its commitment to supporting sustainable development and enabling all Papua New Guineans to participate fully in the nation’s growing digital economy. “We thank PNGCORE for this meaningful recognition and look forward to continuing our work alongside all sectors to build a stronger, more inclusive future for our people,” Ms. Aisi concluded.

Pacific Lime and Cement (PLC) officially launched the Central Lime & Cement project operations on Kido Island in Central province on Friday 1st August, much to the appreciation of the local villagers, the Provincial Government and the National Government. Pacific Lime and Cement, formerly Mayur Resources, focuses on the development of natural resources and renewable energy in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The company is committed to delivering its diversified asset portfolio, which spans lime, cement, nature-based forest carbon credits, iron and industrial sands, contributing to nation building and job creation. Opening formalities at the opening ceremony on Kido was PLC Managing Director Mr. Paul Mulder, who described the occasion as monumental as it took ten (10) years for the landowners, the Provincial and National Governments and PLC to get to this final stage, and thanked all parties involved. “This is the first day that we turn around and we say we are no longer just taking the resources out of the ground and sending them offshore to somebody else. It’s the day we say that we’re going to downstream process and put the products back into the ground in Papua New Guinea,” said Mr. Mulder. The project aims to give one hundred per cent Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) before exporting to overseas markets. This means that most of what the Central Lime & Cement manufactures will be used in country for nation building. They include cement, bricks, concrete foundations and materials used for construction purposes will be sold in PNG first. Prime Minister (PM) James Marape, who was guest of honor at the occasion, said this will alleviate the challenges of importing such materials overseas. “Today I want to say this investment is a complement to the type of investment the Pangu Pati led government has been seeking for since we arrived in office in 2019,” said Marape. “We want investors from outside that grows our local economy, that stops import, that contributes to the exports.” “In as far as I and my government are concerned, this investment ticks all the necessary boxes in as far as government policy is concerned and Papua New Guinea’s aspiration for our progress.” The Central Governor Rufina Peter and local Member of Parliament (MP) for Hiri Koiari Keith Iduhu both also expressed gratitude for finally getting this limestone project off the ground, highlighting the significant benefits to trickle down to the people and the province and district. These benefits include a road link from the island to the mainland Central province in the form of a bridge, better social services, job opportunities and spin off business opportunities. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marape said the official launching marks the Final Investment Decision (FID) that PLC has made in this major project in the Central province, showing confidence in doing such a major project in PNG. Prime Minister Marape and Mr. Mulder then proceeded to revealing the plaque to officially launch the Central Lime & Cement operation.

The Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) is seeking potential mining partners to redevelop the Panguna Mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Since been granted the exploration license- EL01 in January 2024, BCL has made significant progress in onsite presence and activities over the past year. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Chief Secretary Kearnneth Nanei, who spoke at this week’s PNG Resource Week CANCONEX in Port Moresby city, said the ABG holds 72.9% Share in BCL, after the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government transferred 36.4% to the ABG. “As a major stakeholder, the role of the ABG together with our stake stakeholders and landowners will be crucial in this process.” In addition to this, Mr. Nanei said there has been an increase in mining exploration license applications received in the past year. Some of those exploration companies conducting exploration in Bougainville were in attendance as well at the 2025 Papua New Guinea Resource Week at the APEC Haus. “This signifies the potential that we have in the region,” said the Chief Secretary. The reopening of the Panguna mine is extremely important to the ABG and getting this underway would very much assist the region economically going forward.

Despite cost of operation challenges, the Lihir Gold Limited on Lihir Island in New Ireland province has paid a healthy Corporate Income Tax to the State. Lihir Gold Limited, is a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation and has paid K230, 876, 334 to the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) yesterday, Wednesday 30th July. Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape commends the good outcome of the operation at Lihir Gold Limited and appreciates this payment to the State. "Such revenues are critical to our government's efforts to invest in infrastructure, education, health and rural development especially as we mark our 50th year of independence," says Prime Minister Marape. "This is the type of partnership we want with the resource sector- one that delivers for both shareholders and citizens." Prime Minister Marape also commends Newmont Corporation for demonstrating a great willingness to cooperate with the government since assuming control of the mine. Meanwhile, the announcement of the Corporate Income Tax payment was done at the PNG RESOURCE WEEK Resource Summit today at the APEC Haus, Port Moresby city.

The 2025 Community Affairs and National Content Conference and Exhibition (CANCONEX) held as a part of the PNG Resource Week has wrapped up as of yesterday, but perhaps what was significant were the six key takeaways from it to further look at. The six strategic takeaways are the formalizing landowner identification frameworks, scaling community-based enterprise models, improving transparency in benefit management, strengthening workforce development for women and youth, fostering long-term employment strategies, and elevating CANCONEX as a central forum for shaping national content policy. From these, three core priorities were identified: empowering landowner-led enterprise development, ensuring inclusive benefit distribution, and building systems for intergenerational transformation. Reflecting on the week’s momentum, PNG CORE Senior Vice President Mr. Richard Kassman said, “CANCONEX is not a side event, it is the heart of our national conversation on inclusive development. It brings together the voices that matter most: landowners, provincial leaders, and communities whose futures are directly tied to the resource sector. This is where policy meets people, and where real progress begins.” The conference was officially opened by Prime Minister James Marape at the start of the week, whose keynote address reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development and responsible resource management. His presence set a strong tone for the week, highlighting the transformative role of the resource sector in building schools, hospitals, roads, and livelihoods across Papua New Guinea. Hosted by the PNG Chamber of Resources and Energy (PNG CORE), CANCONEX 2025 brought together over 1,400 delegates, 78 exhibitors, and 60 speakers representing national and provincial governments, landowner leaders, resource developers, civil society, and the broader business community. Meanwhile, the Resource Week continues today with the Resources Summit-a high level dialogue on finance, policy, infrastructure, and innovation-and the Gala Dinner featuring the Legacy Awards, which will honour excellence and leadership across the resource sector. These events will carry forward the spirit of CANCONEX, ensuring that technical discussions remain grounded in the human stories and community impact that define Papua New Guinea’s development journey.

The Autonomous Region of Bougainvillea is open to investors to partner in the development of its massive resource sector as the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) progresses towards achieving its independence from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Speaking at the 2025 PNG Resource Week CANCONEX at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby on Tuesday 29th July was the ABG Chief Secretary Mr. Kearnneth Nanei who represented President Ishmael Toroama, where he extended this invitation saying that the mining sector to energy, business, agriculture and fisheries remain untapped. “Bougainville currently holds significant mineral and natural resource potentials, from cold and copper to renewable energy and fisheries,” said Mr. Nanei. “For decades these resources remain largely untapped or under-utilized due to conflict, insecurity or lack of infrastructure. Today we are changing that narrative. “The Autonomous Bougainville Government has taken important steps to establish a stable legal regulatory environment for investments." In terms of the mining sector, he said Bougainville is now working to manage its own activities. “Through the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, and the Bougainville Mining Regulation 2016, the ABG now holds full jurisdiction over mining and exploration activities on the island.” “This is consistent with Section 296 of the Papua New Guinea Constitution which states that national law continues to apply in Bougainville until they are replaced by Bougainville laws.” “So, in Bougainville we have the Bougainville mining act that provides the legal framework for regulating the mining industry.” On the energy front, he said there is the Bougainville Energy Policy and Strategic Energy Action Plan 2023 to 2033, which sets out the vision for clean, affordable and community led energy solutions. “As we look forward into the future, we invite responsible investors, development partners and resource companies to engage with us.”

The National Content in the extractive resource sector is not just a government policy, it’s a pathway for inclusive development and sustainable growth. This fact was stressed by Dr. Anita Togolo, who is the Country Manager for Erias Group PNG- a leading specialist environmental and social consultancy with teams in both Papua New Guinea and Australia. The Erias Group delivered more than sixty (60) projects across PNG, employing and training local scientists and specialists. Dr. Togolo, who is from both Bougainville and Australia and is a senior Social Scientist and Communities and Social impact Specialist with a PhD in Anthropology, spoke at the 2025 Papua New Guinea Resource Week CANCONEX in Port Moresby city. She delivered her presentation reflecting on the evolution of national content in PNG’s extractive resources sector, drawing on her own doctoral research and professional experience, the perspectives of colleagues as well as relevant academic and industrial incites. She said at its core, national content is about ensuring that resource projects deliver real and lasting value to the country’s economy. A national content policy refers to a framework that sets requirements for the sourcing of materials and manufacturing of goods within a country. It aims to promote local production and reduce reliance on imported goods, thereby fostering economic growth and job creation. “It goes beyond expectation, it’s about building skills, creating jobs, strengthening local business and transferring knowledge and technology,” said Dr. Togolo. “When done well, national content policies can help drive inclusive development and long-term benefits, not just during project construction, but across the life cycle of the resource sector.” She said the National Content implementation in PG has evolved gradually over the past fifty (50) years to cater for provisions for landowner engagements and benefit sharing; hence, the evolution of landowner companies (Lancos). “For companies investing in PNG’s people and partnership, it is not just right but smart.” “For the government, it requires consistent support and real implementations and for all of us, it’s a shared responsibility.

NiuSky Pacific Limited (NSPL) has confirmed that a major internal power outage was the cause of the Air Traffic Control radar and tracking systems being temporarily down on Monday afternoon, disrupting a lot of flights in the process. After conducting its own initial investigation, it was concluded that the disruption was triggered by a failure in the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), leading to the complete loss of the following systems. Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) All radio communications (VHF/HF) Surveillance systems (Radar and ADS-B) Telephone and intercom lines Computer Aided Aeronautical Data and Alerting System (CADAS) Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) As a direct result, Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Flight Information Services (FIS) were temporarily unavailable. Upon identification of the outage, all ATS Units across the country, including Jacksons, Nadzab, Mount Hagen, Tokua, Goroka, and Madang, were immediately notified to halt all departures. Despite the outage, three arriving domestic flights were safely managed using manual fallback procedures and backup radio systems, with all aircraft safely separated and guided to landing. For international overflying traffic, ATC separation was maintained based on the last communicated positions. Adjacent Flight Information Region (FIR) centres in Brisbane and Oakland were promptly notified, and TIBA (Traffic Information Broadcast by Aircraft) procedures were activated to ensure continued safety in affected airspace. "The NSPL Executive Management coordinated the response and informed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of PNG (CASAPNG), National Airports Corporation (NAC), and relevant airline operators of the situation," said NiuSky Pacific. "By 1500hrs, all affected systems were restored and ATS services resumed normal operations. TIBA procedures were cancelled accordingly. However, issuance of NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) was not possible during the outage due to the unavailability of CADAS." NSPL deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and commends its operational teams for their swift and safe management of the situation under contingency procedures. An internal investigation into the root cause of the UPS failure is currently underway, and steps are being taken to ensure system resilience and prevent recurrence.

There was a scare in the skies yesterday when aircrafts found themselves flying blind due to a temporary outage of the Air Traffic Control radar and tracking systems in Port Moresby and Mt. Hagen cities, managed by NiuSky Pacific. The national airline Air Niugini confirmed this incident in a statement released on Monday evening, stating that Niusky Pacific is conducting investigations into the outage that resulted in disruptions to some flight operations in the afternoon. The systems were later restored at 3:25pm. “The safety of our passengers and crew remain our utmost priority throughout the period. Air Niugini's operational teams worked closely with NiuSky Pacific to monitor the situation and implement contingency measures, ensuring that safety was not compromised,” Air Niugini stated. Five flights into and out of Port Moresby city experienced delays and cancellations, primarily those scheduled during the late afternoon. All other flights resumed promptly following the restoration of the radar and tracking systems. “Air Niugini appreciates the patience and understanding of our valued customers. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability in our operations.”

People accessing health facilities in the East Sepik Province (ESP) can expect access to clean water and sanitation thanks to the continuous support from the Coca Cola Foundation, supporting the WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programmes in the province. Communities and healthcare facilities will significantly benefit from increased access to safe water as the result of a three-year, USD 1.3 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to WaterAid Papua New Guinea. This support should alleviate the water related issues says Anne-Marie Paul, Country Director at WaterAid PNG. “WaSH-related diseases significantly impact PNG’s weak health system, increasing morbidity and mortality, exacerbating child malnutrition, reducing educational attainment and workforce participation and imposing economic burdens at both household and national levels,” said Anne-Marie. “Water security in Wewak is further compromised by high dependence on rainwater harvesting, but it is insufficient to meet community needs during the dry season and worsened by climate change, droughts and unpredictable rainfall. As a result, many communities turn to unsafe traditional sources—such as shallow, unprotected dug wells—which are highly susceptible to microbiological contamination.” She says WaSH access in healthcare facilities is also extremely low with the large majority not meeting basic WaSH service levels. “Adequate WaSH access in healthcare facilities is essential for patient safety and the quality of healthcare outcomes, particularly for pregnant women and newborns.” She says the project funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation’s most recent grant aims to improve access to safe, clean and sustainable water supply in a number of communities in Wewak district. Around 1,300 residents will benefit from upgraded water services and sustained behaviour change initiatives. “It will also significantly improve patient and healthcare access to water supply at larger district hospitals which see over 5,700 users a month. In addition, it will enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the East Sepik Provincial WaSH Committee to inform and scale WaSH systems across other districts. Papua New Guinea faces a severe WaSH crisis, with some of the lowest access rates globally. The situation is even more critical in Wewak district, East Sepik province, where more than 53% of rural communities do not have access to an improved water supply, contributing to the transmission of preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery and typhoid. Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Foundation has supported WaSH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programmes in East Sepik province for the past three years, providing USD 582,000 worth of grants for projects since 2022.

Over 140 new police recruits will commence their six (6) months training today Monday 28th July at the National Center of Excellence (NCoE) at Bomana just outside the city of Port Moresby. Over the weekend recruits from all four provinces of the Momase Region, the Oro province and Western province arrived at the Jackson's Domestic terminal on Saturday while the rest from Port Moresby along with Central and Gulf provinces joined them on Sunday. According to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RNGC), this group makes up the first batch for 2025. A formal handover of the recruits was done at NCoE, Bomana, where the Officer in Charge for Recruitment Inspector Elisha Walaget handed over their Duplicate Record of Service (DRS) Files to the Director of Training, Superintendent Charlie Sare. Meanwhile, the list for those shortlisted from the Highlands and New Guinea Islands Regions for the second batch will be published on the RPNGC’s Official website once the list is finalized. The Recruitment Process for the second batch will commence in October or November 2025 to assess those shortlisted and recruit the successful candidates for training. The second batch is likely to come in for training in the first quarter of 2026 once the recruitment process is completed. "A call-out for the 2026 Recruitment will be advertised in December 2025 and we encourage those interested in joining the next recruitment to prepare their documents and stay informed by regularly checking the RPNGC’s Official website and Facebook page for recruitment announcement," stated the RPNGC.