Parliament to consider landmark National Ownership Law

Papua New Guinea's government is set to introduce a landmark economic reform bill aimed at bolstering national ownership and commercialization of the nation's rich hydrocarbon and mineral resources. The proposed legislation, the Organic Law on Papua New Guinea’s Ownership of Hydrocarbons and Minerals and the Consolidation and Commercialisation of Papua New Guinea’s Business Law (Amendment) 2026, represents a significant move to assert greater control over these vital assets.

The bill's introduction to Parliament signals a key government initiative to reshape how PNG manages its natural wealth. The focus is on strengthening national stakes and improving the business frameworks surrounding the extraction and trade of these resources. This reform is positioned as a crucial step towards maximizing the benefits derived from the country's resource endowments for its people.