Since December O'Neill has been pressing petroleum projects to look at aggregating resources under the least expensive and fast-to-market way.  Licenses granted to Eaglewood by the government show that he is serious about it.  O'Neill has also stated that for the good of PNG he wants to see locals be involved in owning parts of projects and downstream businesses included in plans.  This license granted also has that requirement.

"Gas firm offered licences"

By GYNNIE KERO
CANADIAN oil and gas exploration company Eaglewood Energy Inc said it has been offered a strategic processing facility licence (APPFL 3) and strategic pipeline licence (APL 9) in Western.
Chief executive Brad Hurtubise (pictured) said: “We (Eaglewood) are very pleased to have been offered these licences.
“They are the first petroleum infrastructure licences to be awarded in Western, Papua New Guinea and as such, they are a significant milestone as Western transitions to becoming the next petroleum producing province in PNG.
“The licences are also the first petroleum infrastructure permits in Papua New Guinea to be offered the “strategic” designation under the PNG Oil and Gas Act”.
Hurtubise said the strategic designation of these licences will ensure transparent and open access to production infrastructure in this area of Western.
“In addition to processing and transporting hydrocarbons from Ubuntu and PRL 21 fields, any additional available capacity in the system will permit further discoveries in the area to be developed in a more cost effective way and in a shorter timeframe, creating positive outcomes for Eaglewood, our partners, other companies in the area and the state of PNG.”
Final grant of the licences was subject to a number of condition precedents, the most significant of which was the establishment of a project agreement between Eaglewood and the state.
The licences would grant Eaglewood the right to construct and operate a strategic gas condensate processing facility close to the Ubuntu discovery (PRL 28 – Eaglewood, Talisman Energy, Mitsubishi, MFI) and Elevala, Tingu and Ketu discoveries (PRL 21 – Horizon Oil, Talisman Energy, Mitsubishi, Kina Petroleum) and a strategic pipeline to deliver the condensate from these fields to a location on the Fly River from where it will be shipped to market.
As announced previously, Eaglewood has a participation agreement in place with Trafigura PTE Ltd, whereby the two companies are working together with a view to jointly financing and owning the pipeline and processing facility.
-Other investors, including the state, landowner companies, local participating upstream companies, infrastructure funds would also have an opportunity to participate in the ownership of this infrastructure.
Investors, including the state, landowner companies, local participating upstream companies, infrastructure funds have an opportunity to participate in the ownership of this infrastructure."