Caption: US
Ambassador Walter North
By MATTHEW VARI
US
Ambassador to PNG Walter North reminded participants in a two-day workshop
hosted by the US Embassy focused on ‘Environmental Information Analysis and
Compliance in Oil and Gas Exploration and Development’, earlier this week at
the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.
In his
opening address, he told them that the workshop was one that would not only
help bolster the PNG Government’s, governance, revenue management, and
technical skills- but also assist in identifying and minimizing the affects to
the environments and communities that
host oil and gas projects.
“Revenue
management is critical because the resources and earnings in this industry are
limited and will not last forever,” Ambassador North said.
“What all
worldwide best practices in the extractives sector have in common is the
engagement with communities in a two-way and transparent dialogue that
ultimately results in a ‘social license’ to operate.”
Facilitating
experts for the workshop included; Ted Murphy,
Associate State Director, Alaska, U.S. DOI Bureau of Land Management (BLM);
Gabe Garcia, Manager, Bakersfield California Field Office, U.S. DOI BL;
Assheton Carter, Senior Advisor, Equitable Origin; Dan McFadyen, Executive
Fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Canada.
“Ted and Gabe work to
minimize environmental effects and the disturbance of oils and gas developments
to local communities and wildlife,” North said.
“Over the next two days
hey will share their best management practices.”
Participants of the
workshop were from the Department of Petroleum and Energy, Department of
Environment and Conservation, Department of Land and Physical Planning, and the
Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
The workshop is part of
a series of training of opportunities since 2012 offered by the US in Papua New
Guinea as part of the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI), that
aims to help the country manage its oil and gas sector revenues wisely and in a
manner that maximizes and sustain natural resource development for the country
and its people.
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