In early July the executive management team of Kumul Petroleum Holdings visited two construction sites where the company is constructing important infrastructure that will assist the long-term provision of increased national content and essential services in the country.
Under construction is the Motukea Fuel Facility adjacent to the Motukea international wharf, and the Training and Fabrication Facility in the Caution Bay area, close to the LNG plant site.
Managing director Wapu Sonk stated, “These strategic construction projects demonstrate Kumul Petroleum’s commitment to national development. The Training and Fabrication Facility fulfils all the necessary elements for increased national content – workforce development through enhanced training; and supplier development through new local manufacturing capability.”
Mr Sonk noted that the development of significant gas fields and mining projects planned over the next few years, upwards of 300,000 tons of structural, mechanical and piping modules, tanks and other steel fabrication will be required. The fabrication facility will have the capacity to produce up to 20,000 tons of steel components a year, directly employ 1000 people and indirectly another 2000 people in necessary service contractors.
At the Motukea Fuel Facility Mr Sonk outlined, “This Jet A1 import and storage facility is a long-term initiative to ensure that a fuel supply crisis cannot occur again. It is continuation of Kumul Petroleum’s commitment to the Government when it stepped up to facilitate fuel imports and address the fuel supply crisis in early 2024.”
The Motukea facility consists of four 3,000 cubic metre Jet A1 fuel tanks, associated ship offloading and truck loading equipment, safety & environmental control facilities. It should be complete by the end of the year and operational in early 2026.
“The construction of this infrastructure reflects our long-term commitment to national content development in Papua New Guinea,” managing director Sonk said, “By investing in training and fabrication facilities, we are investing in the future of our country.”
