Duma Gets Petroleum & Energy – Groans Heard Around the World
With Peter O’Neill revealing who his 33 Ministers are, and what portfolios they will hold over the next five years, it is only fair that we take a closer look at some of our Ministers.
The Ministerial position which has probably caused the greatest interest – after the top posts of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister – and most certainly from an international perspective, would have to be the post of Minister for Petroleum and Energy.
My Twitter followers would have observed a constant stream of tweets leading up to the announcement of Peter O’Neill’s National Executive Council, highlighting the fact that I was being bombarded with requests as to who would fill this post.
You know the world of business is watching #PNG when you get multiple Tweets/emails asking who will be the Minister for Petroleum/Energy.
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(@Tavurvur) August 04, 2012And naturally, the world of business entrenched in the petroleum and energy sectors, have indeed been watching with interest developments in our national politics – courtesy of PNG’s significant resource wealth.
One of the more interesting observations justifying this statement is the amount of traffic The Garamut has been receiving via online finance forums from around the world – it has been impressive.
But not all of this attention is good news.
There appears to exist a genuine concern, and maybe even apprehension from these speculators and investors, as to the possibility of William Duma regaining his portfolio – which he has since managed to do.
@Tavurvur Exactly! O'Neill looks insincere about cleaning up PNG when he brings Duma back. Duma is a thief and O'Neill knows it!
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Peter Doyle (@peter_doyle11) August 07, 2012The Minister for Petroleum and Energy is an important position directly relevant to the future success of PNG from an economical perspective and fiscal position. It is imperative that the right person is in the job.
It is understandable that William Duma, who is leader of the United Resources Party – which managed to net 7 MPs (the third highest total for a political party in O’Neill’s coalition), was given the portfolio as a result of his contribution of MPs to O’Neill’s Government – and also because of his experience.
But we all know that where there is smoke, there is fire.
Party politics in PNG, and the continuous attention needed by the prime minister of the day to continuously exert time and energy in monitoring and managing domestic political fires, means that the country does miss out on a meritocracy-type Cabinet – where the best person for the job, gets the job.
The question Peter O’Neill should be asking himself as he kicks off his first full term in power as prime minister – is whether or not he believes William Duma is the best man to manage this portfolio – not with his own political ambition in mind – but with the national interest at the forefront.
The Garamut 
Duma has master-minded in ‘getting it off the ground’ the so-called LNG projects from negotiations to implementing the actual LNG project once given the portfolio in his first term as minister responsible. Oil and Gas was in PNG many years ago, it did not just pop-up in the last 5 or 10years and why we did not see any potential leaders back 10years or 20years with credibility to process those gas products. It takes a real man to put in place necessary instruments to see multi-million kina projects to have it off the ground, it requires people with tactics, skills and knowledge to handle such massive projects and PNG should congratulation Hon. William Duma for a job well-done. I don’t think Duma should be criticized but be honored, well done PM O’neill for appointing him in the same portfolio to wrap up everything concerning the LNG Projects in Papua New Guinea.
‘Addie Murphy’ – A fair point – and accepted. It is very possible that maybe the smoke we’re seeing is not coming from Duma, but from the investors and speculators? Rgds, Tavurvur.
In reality Moi Avei and his gas team did the donkey work preparing for the LNG, so although the gas to Q didn’t proceed much of the ground work was set in place to drive a major project forward when the companies for much of that time (apart from OSL) were not too interested..Breaking up the gas office team was a setback, but by the then the companies were readier to be in the driving seat…
‘Paul Barker’ – The next LNG project will be interesting. Avei and Duma have had their setbacks, if all goes to plan, it should be up and running before the next election. Rgds, Tavurvur.
I have seen a copy of the Project Agreement, and its size and depth had me gasping for air. Marat if I recalled hinted that he had little input into the content of the actual Agreement. I am left to wonder whether the Minister for Petroleum then who is now would say otherwise. I was on the ground in Nogoli, Hides on 09 September 2009 and seen how Duma and Arthur Somare played their game with Anderson Aigru in the back ground. I could not swolllow what little biscuit and corned I had which Oil Search supplied to the landowners. The so called LBBSA was drafted by Aigru during that very morning before it was signed at 4am. I am not sure if any politician in PNG can be credited at all.
Ok ..ok but wait.we must not quickly pat Moi Avei, William Duma et’ al on the back and forget the hard working and brilliantly thinking bureaucrats and advisers who burn the midnight oil so the likes of these gentlemen can sign on the dotted line and claim credit and fame or glory.
Duma was a hindrance and stumbling block to the development of the non-renewable energy sector in his former portfolio ..and now the PM has rewarded him with the same. Man… I hope PNG can navigate around this guy.
Tell me, besides the National Government benefits, landowner benefits and other national benefits from our resources, why has it been so that the PNG Government and its people continue to think that we are not capable of developing all or any of our own resources ourselves and maximize our benefit? The foreign companies developing these resources continue to manipulate and apply divide and rule tactics so that they make everything and leave behind bones and pitts. We PNGs must come out of the box and see what they are seeing that we are not seeing before all the resources are gone. So I am not surprised when these very foreign firms are winching about William Duma,,,maybe the game plan has changed under Duma and playing against their normal liking. Keep it up Duma!
I agree with Tobras. Winches and any background noise came because Duma stood in their way to fleece PNG leaving bones and pits behind (Tobras). Well, I agree, Petromin should change its name to PetroGasMin.
is anyone concerned at all that their is little to no work activity going on at all at the DPE? The power bill has not been paid and their website is not even active. Hardly a reassuring picture for foreign investors not to mention the public who have put trust in the ministry to represent them. Our future revenues are tied to oil and gas development and this ministry is barely functioning. We deserve better? Ingoll