Kevin Rudd Jr awaits phone call from 'Big Kev'

By LIAM COCHRANE of ABC

A five-year-old Papua New Guinean boy named after Kevin Rudd says he's happy his namesake has become Prime Minister again and is waiting for a phone call from 'Big Kev'.
 In 2008, then-prime minister, Kevin Rudd, visited a health clinic in PNG's Eastern Highlands just as a baby was born.
The parents named the boy in honour of the visiting prime minister and Kevin Rudd Junior has since become a minor celebrity.

Bougainville genocide lawsuit thrown out by appeals court

By Edvard Pettersson - Jun 29, 2013 6:23 AM PT

Bloomberg

Rio Tinto Plc (RIO), the world’s second-biggest mining company, won dismissal of a lawsuit in the U.S. accusing it of contributing to genocide in Papua New Guinea.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco today affirmed a lower court’s ruling dismissing the case. The appeals court’s decision was prompted by an April 22 order by the U.S. Supreme Court, which in a separate case brought against Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) had scaled back application of the 1789 Alien Tort Statute.
That law, also invoked in the Rio Tinto case, has been a favorite tool of human-rights advocates seeking to hold companies responsible in U.S. courts for atrocities overseas.
The lawsuit against London-based Rio Tinto stems from the deaths of thousands of indigenous people starting in 1988 on the island of Bougainville, where Rio Tinto was part of a group operating the world’s largest open copper pit.
The case is Sarie v. Rio Tinto Plc, 02-56256, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (San Francisco.)
To contact the reporter on this story: Edvard Pettersson in Los Angeles at epettersson@bloomberg.net

Rainbow Power Company lands pot of gold in Papua New Guinea

By Andy Parks

Northern Star

 

NIMBIN'S Rainbow Power Company has signed a deal to provide renewable electricity to more than 3500 homes in 49 villages in Papua New Guinea.
Only 20% of the country has access to electricity, but Rainbow Power director Paul O'Reilly said there was a huge opportunity for the company there as the country had a target of providing electricity to 80% of the population by 2020.
"The alternative technology skills we have been practising in this part of the world for 25 years are really coming to fruition and have a place in the broader world," he said. 

LIFE CHANGING: Rainbow Power Company company director Paul O’Reilly with examples of the company’s product that will be exported to Papua New Guinea.

"We're now exporting those skills."
Each of the 49 villages will be provided with a three-phase solar system with battery storage that will be distributed via a mini grid.
The 13.8kW system will allow homes to run lighting, televisions, phone charging and a community cool room. Those too remote to connect to the mini grids will get a 90-watt stand-alone system.
At the moment most villages use kerosene lamps for lighting which is responsible for health problems including respiratory infections, lung and throat cancers, eye infections and cataracts as well as low birth weights.
Mr O'Reilly said when faced with a choice between diesel generators and renewable technology, renewables were now much cheaper and more reliable.
"When you're looking at villages that are a five to six-hour boat trip upriver, trying to keep the diesel flow up is a challenge," he said.
"So the answer is to install a system where they get free energy from the sun."
He said Rainbow Power's tender included its highest quality equipment because reliability was an important issue.
He said the desire for mobile phone technology and the need to recharge handsets was driving the push for electricity on PNG.
"When you looking at communicating with someone for a 30 cent phone call instead of a two-day walk, that's life changing."

High Arctic signs 3 year PNG contract renewals

Scandinavian Oil-Gas

High Arctic Energy Services Inc. has accepted a Letter of Award from Oil Search Limited for three year contract extensions for its primary contracts in Papua New Guinea (PNG). 
 

The extensions will cover the drilling contracts for Rigs 103 and 104 and the drilling support services contract related to the supply of personnel and rental equipment to support the related drilling operations. 
The new contracts are expected to be signed early in July once the agreed terms are incorporated into the amending agreements. 
 The new extensions will be effective July 1, 2013 for a three-year term to June 30, 2016.
Commenting on the renewal, Bill Easson, General Manager Drilling, for OSL, said; “The extension of these contracts reflects Oil Search’s recognition of, and confidence in, High Arctic’s quality service delivery in Papua New Guinea. Over the last six years, our companies have forged a strong partnership to safely deliver effective drilling results in a very challenging environment.”

Essar Projects secures US$ 50 million contract in PNG

Essar Projects a Global EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contractor headquartered in Dubai announced that it had secured a construction project valued at US$ 50 million in Papua New Guinea for the Western Highlands Development Corporation.

This is the sixth international contract won by EPL this year and the second project secured by the company in PNG, where it earlier constructed and commissioned the Komo Airport for Exxon Mobil. Essar Projects’ current order book has swelled to over US$ 4 billion.

Mr Alwyn Bowden president and CEO, Essar Projects said: “This project is a historic win for EPL reaffirming the entrepreneurial nature of the company and the proven ability to operate in the most challenging of environments, and underpins a clear strategy to consolidate and build on our operations in Australasia, just as we are successfully doing in the Middle East and Africa.”

The project involves construction of Kapal Haus in Mount Hagen Western Highlands Province. EPL would design, construct and commission the Proposed Mixed Use Development project which will include construction of an office complex to house the provincial headquarters including the Governor’s office and a residential building for diplomats, ministers and high profile professionals. The project will be completed in 22 months.

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr.Peter  O'Neill will inaugurate the project next month accompanied by four former Prime Ministers in a ceremony that will be graced by the Regional Head of the Catholic Church and all foreign diplomats.

Source - Strategic Research Institute

(www.steelguru.com)

NASFUND looks to invest in Fiji

From NASFUND June e-Newsletter

FIJI’S potential as an ideal investor location was discussed by National Superannuation Fund (NASFUND) Chief Executive Officer, Ian Tarutia, at the recent Fiji Institute of Accountants Congress 2013 held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island early this month.

The event has been the premier meeting ground for Fiji’s private and public sector movers and shakers for many years.

Mr Tarutia was invited by Fiji’s Accounting Congress Committee following a marked increase in PNG’s institutional and private investors’ participation in Fiji.

One such investment is the joint venture between NASFUND, Lamana Development and Fiji National Provident Fund in the much-anticipated FJ$90 million investment redevelopment of the 5-star Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Grand Pacific Hotel Suva is 50% owned by NASFUND, 25% by Lamana Development with Fiji National Provident Fund owning the remaining 25%.

Tarutia said that NASFUND’s Board of Directors considered three fundamental issues as part of the decision making process to invest in Fiji: i) the quality of their joint venture partners, ii) hotel management capability and iii) the Melanesian connection with Fiji.

He added that “for NASFUND, with its high growth, excess liquidity and limited opportunities in conformance with its investment guidelines in the PNG economy, other jurisdictions had to be explored. Importantly portfolio diversification from single country risk is another consideration NASFUND takes into account. With the after effects of the Global Financial Crisis still reverberating in the western world, the Pacific region which remain unscathed was a natural area for opportunities.”

NASFUND’s first ever investment in Fiji, the Grand Pacific Hotel redevelopment, has been a catalyst of much=needed economic activity in capital Suva since works commenced in 2011.

Initially built by the Union Steamship Company in 1904, this legendary and luxurious hotel has accommodated dignitaries like Her Majesty the Queen of Britain and other reputable individuals who graced Fiji and the Pacific back then.

The revival of one of Suva’s most iconic landmark after two decades of it closing its doors is seen by some Fijians as a sign of more grandeur things to come and with it hope that NASFUND and other PNG investors will continue with their prudent investment in other business opportunities in Fiji.

Trade relations on agenda during PNG PM's Townsville trip

ABC

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister will discuss a possible increase in trade with Townsville during a visit to the city this weekend.

It will be the first time Peter O'Neill has visited the north Queensland city.
His two-day trip will include a tour through the Port of Townsville and watching a Cowboys' football game.
Dawson Wilkie from the Townsville Chamber of Commerce says it is an important opportunity to develop trade relations.
"We were looking to reinforce that and look at ways that we can improve that relationship," he said.
"Townsville businesses do a lot of trade in PNG, there's a lot of PNG students who come to TAFE colleges in Townsville."
Mayor Jenny Hill has other issues she'd like to raise.
"I want to talk to him about education opportunities here as well as health opportunities," she said.
She says she also wants to discuss fly-in, fly-out workers.
Mr O'Neill will arrive in Townsville on Saturday.