The CEO Magazine Asia - 09.2018

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is environmental protection. We ensure strict compliance.
There is also a government agency that makes sure the
oil and gas companies that are working with us do meet
the regulatory requirements.

Kumul Petroleum has a strong sense of social
responsibility; for example, you’ve sponsored the
Oceania Swimming Championships. Why is that
sort of initiative important to the company?
Although we are new, we are the biggest company in PNG.
But our assets are in the mountains, and below ground, and
in the buried pipelines. There’s no real visibility of who we
are, what we own, or the assets we have. So we look at all
the value that gets created from our oil and gas resources
and we try to maintain this social consciousness, and transfer
some of the wealth created into social development, by
getting involved in different kinds of events. For example,
we are heavily involved in charity golf, supporting homeless
kids and we’ve funded disaster relief efforts and others.

What sort of leader are you?
I’d probably say hands-on. I come from a technical
background, so I do get a bit hands-on at times.

What advantages do you see in this

management style?

I see the direction that oil, gas and energy development is

going in, as well as its requirements. I have a strong drive

to make sure that we, in the oil and gas management space,

contribute to the development of the country. The people

who work for me can see my mission and drive, and they

want to be part of it. So I think that’s what makes me a

good leader – following through on this vision and making

it happen and creating the energy to bring others along.

What changes do you hope to see in the near future

in PNG?

I see PNG going from an oil exporting country to now

LNG exporter, which could easily reach five LNG trains

producing close to 20 million tonnes per annum (20mtpa).

It will creating a lot of wealth for the country and sure

enough, PNG will develop to a middle income country

hopefully in the next 20 years.

“PNG IS

FORTUNATE

TO BE WELL

POSITIONED

TO COMPETE

WITH OTHER

PROJECTS IN

THE ASIA–

PACIFIC.”