Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Petroleum, Jimmy Maladina, has extended a formal invitation to one of the world’s largest construction and infrastructure firms, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), to consider investment opportunities in Papua New Guinea’s petroleum sector. The invitation was made during a high-level meeting held in Port Moresby in March 2025, where Minister Maladina met with CSCEC President Wen Bing to discuss the country’s growing energy potential.
The engagement comes as part of Papua New Guinea’s wider push to attract strategic foreign investment into its natural resources industry—particularly upstream petroleum development and associated infrastructure. Maladina emphasised Papua New Guinea’s abundant untapped oil and gas reserves, stable regulatory environment, and the government’s commitment to facilitating international partnerships.
“Papua New Guinea has a long history of resource development and we’re now entering a new phase where modern infrastructure and global collaboration are critical,” said Maladina. “We see CSCEC as a strong potential partner in our journey towards energy security and sustainable growth.”
The Minister highlighted several ongoing and upcoming opportunities, including infrastructure associated with LNG expansion, pipeline construction, and gas processing facilities in resource-rich provinces. He noted that the government is actively reviewing legislation and administrative frameworks to ensure that investors like CSCEC are met with clarity, efficiency, and commercial certainty.
CSCEC, known for its expansive international footprint and large-scale engineering capabilities, is reportedly evaluating sectors where it can align its expertise with PNG’s infrastructure and energy development needs. The company has undertaken oil and gas projects in various emerging markets, particularly across Asia and the Middle East.
The meeting coincided with the Green Finance Summit 2025, held in Port Moresby, which aimed to align climate-friendly investment with national development goals. While the summit focused largely on sustainable finance, the petroleum sector remained front of mind for the PNG government, which is pursuing a “dual-track” growth strategy balancing resource exploitation with environmental sustainability.
Minister Maladina’s outreach to CSCEC is part of a broader initiative to attract more non-traditional investors into Papua New Guinea’s energy sector, beyond the established Western operators. It also reflects Papua New Guinea’s evolving geopolitical ties with Asia and its interest in deepening economic cooperation with Chinese state-owned enterprises.
