Prime Minister James Marape has announced that over 10 major resource projects will open within the next two decades in the country.

Speaking at the PNG Resource Week 2026 Gala Dinner event on Friday in Port Moresby city, he said these upcoming projects should further list the country’s economy, promising more benefits for the people.

“The first 20 years of the next 50 years, we will be opening 19 projects in the mining and petroleum sectors,” said the prime minister.

“These projects are in the Eastern most islands in our country like the Woodlark and new Misima coming back to operation.”

For this year, he said there is the progress to the Final Investment Decision in the Papua LNG.    

A Final Investment Decision (FID) is the point at which parties and stakeholders of a major resource project formally approve the project to proceed into full development and construction.

For resource projects such as mining, oil, gas, and energy developments, reaching FID means that the project has passed key stages of assessment, and the investors are satisfied that it is commercially viable.

Prime Minister Marape said the country can expect this to happen towards the end of 2026.

“All nuts and bolts are in place, the government has agreed. It is a 14.5 billion US dollar project that will be announced when the investment partners have agreed among themselves.”

“An exciting 20 years coming on. This country will keep on producing a return for investors, but more importantly, a return for the landowners,” said the prime minister.