Published Thursday, 01 February, 2007 at 03:26 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
PNG GAS SUSPENSION OPENS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR QLD
The suspension of the PNG Gas Project, though a disappointment, will open up new opportunities for Queensland business and industry, and for North Queensland in particular, Premier Peter Beattie and Deputy Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government had given every possible support to the PNG Project, but had always held the view that its future would be determined by commercial factors.
“The partners have decided not to proceed on commercial grounds,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the decision by the Project Partners not to proceed with the PNG Gas Project however opened up opportunities for Queensland business and industry.
“Our relations with Papua New Guinea – our closest neighbour - at the government-to-government, and business-to-business levels are already excellent.”
“This will help our business and industry sectors compete for the many contracts that will flow from the decision to fast-track downstream processing of natural gas in Papua New Guinea.”
“For example - one of North Queensland’s major companies, Curtin Brothers, is already a major participant in the construction areas mining, petroleum, and gas sectors in PNG, as well as in major infrastructure areas such as road and ports construction.”
Ms Bligh said that a number of other Queensland companies are contractors and suppliers to the PNG Government, and provide mining services and supplies to major resource development companies in Papua New Guinea.
A senior Queensland Government official visited PNG last year to advise the PNG Government on aspects of the Petroleum Industrial Park now being developed that is likely to be the hub of onshore gas processing.
“We will consider offering the PNG Government assistance in the future as it moves to develop its own gas processing industries,” Mr Beattie said.
It is reported today that the explorers say it is possible they will revisit the pipeline in the future.
ENDS
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 322 44379
Thursday, 1 February 2007
Mr Beattie said the Queensland Government had given every possible support to the PNG Project, but had always held the view that its future would be determined by commercial factors.
“The partners have decided not to proceed on commercial grounds,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the decision by the Project Partners not to proceed with the PNG Gas Project however opened up opportunities for Queensland business and industry.
“Our relations with Papua New Guinea – our closest neighbour - at the government-to-government, and business-to-business levels are already excellent.”
“This will help our business and industry sectors compete for the many contracts that will flow from the decision to fast-track downstream processing of natural gas in Papua New Guinea.”
“For example - one of North Queensland’s major companies, Curtin Brothers, is already a major participant in the construction areas mining, petroleum, and gas sectors in PNG, as well as in major infrastructure areas such as road and ports construction.”
Ms Bligh said that a number of other Queensland companies are contractors and suppliers to the PNG Government, and provide mining services and supplies to major resource development companies in Papua New Guinea.
A senior Queensland Government official visited PNG last year to advise the PNG Government on aspects of the Petroleum Industrial Park now being developed that is likely to be the hub of onshore gas processing.
“We will consider offering the PNG Government assistance in the future as it moves to develop its own gas processing industries,” Mr Beattie said.
It is reported today that the explorers say it is possible they will revisit the pipeline in the future.
ENDS
Media contact: Deputy Premier’s Office 322 44379
Thursday, 1 February 2007