TVWAN Online News | 11th July 2026

Districts Development Authorities (DDAs) are now part of the Papua LNG Development Forum for the first time in a major LNG project in the country. The DDAs will represent landowners outside the host district in the benefits sharing agreement of the US$14.5 billion Papua LNG Development. 

This was revealed by Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina during the opening of the Papua LNG Development Forum in Port Moresby yesterday, adding that this has been made possible following the amendment of the Oil and Gas Act.
Prior to Papua LNG, no DDAs participated in the Papua New Guinea’s very first LNG project, the PNG LNG, except the five provincial governments and local level governments.

“We've included the DDA to cover other landowners, representatives, and other interested parties within the district and the province to be included in the discussion,” said Maladina.

Maladina stated the amendments were done to Oil and Gas following consultation with project-impacted communities, culminating in the onboarding of DDAs.

“The Government, under Prime Minister (James) Marape, we've gone back and we changed the law, we amended the organic law and we included the DDA to give wider consultation, which is very important. 

“We didn't want to feel as a Government that we've missed out on people outside of the footprint. So, we've asked DDAs to come in, including the LNGs and the Provincial Government,” he stressed.

Maladina assured the country that amendments of the law and other regulatory work and processes conducted prior to the forum followed due processes.

“From the State side, our responsibility is to make sure that all legal and regulatory requirements are properly followed. 

“Prior to the first grant of the licence application, the development forum must be convened, endeavouring to achieve the development agreement, properly progressed in accordance with the Act. 

“Now, from where I sit, I have to follow the law, and I must reiterate that the law is my guidance, but where we can manoeuvre, we will manoeuvre, but where we can't, we go back to the Oil and Gas Act (1998).