PNG MOVES TO ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT EITI COMMISSION

CAPTION: PNG EITI Executive Officer George Kauli during his presentation at the PNG Resource Week at APEC House.

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

PAPUA New Guinea is moving closer to establishing an independent Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative or EITI Commission, as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen transparency and accountability in the country’s extractive sector.

Speaking at Day Three of PNG Resources Week 2026 yesterday, PNG EITI Executive Officer George Kauli said the draft bill to establish the commission has been completed and the work on a separate reporting law is expected to begin by the end of this year.

Mr Kauli said the proposed commission will provide a legal foundation for PNG’s EITI Secretariat and strengthen compliance with international transparency standards across the mining, petroleum and gas sectors.

He said the EITI reporting process independently reconciles payments made by resource companies with records held by government agencies thats helps to identify any gaps in taxes, royalties and other benefit payments.

Mr Kauli said the reforms are aimed at improving public accountability, helping resource-owning communities better understand how benefits are distributed and improve investor confidence through stronger governance.

The proposed commission forms part of reforms first endorsed by the National Executive Council in 2019 to strengthen transparency and accountability in Papua New Guinea’s extractive industries.