AGP Executive Report

Maritime Security: FFA’s Operation Island Chief 2026 (OPIC26) flagged 16 vessels of interest and apprehended four in a two-week regional push against illegal fishing, covering about 27.5 million sq km and monitoring 3,000+ fishing vessels across 11 FFA members, with support from Pacific QUADs and tools like satellite monitoring and remote sensing. Defence & Skills: PNG and Australia are turning the Pukpuk Treaty into workforce pathways, including a pilot recruitment route for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force, with broader labour mobility and training plans. Energy & Infrastructure Finance: The Asian Development Bank says PNG will receive about K5.2 billion in new projects over three years, targeting transport, energy, water, health, education and agriculture, plus public-sector management and financial access. Disaster Readiness: A 5.8 quake hit near PNG’s northern coast; officials reported no immediate damage, while agencies monitor for aftershocks. Petroleum Local Participation: The Pasca A Gas Project’s National Content Plan was approved, aiming to expand PNG jobs, training and PNG-owned supplier participation. Tech & Education: PNGUOT Alumni soft-launched an online SaaS platform to centralise alumni networking and support university development. Science & Engineering Standards: PNG launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges to improve earthquake resilience using updated risk information.

Defence & Jobs: PNG and Australia are turning the Pukpuk Treaty into practical workforce plans, including a pilot pathway for Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force, with early recruitment expected in 2026-27 and scaling over the decade. Energy & Local Business: Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina has approved the Pasca A Gas Project National Content Plan, setting a framework to expand PNG training, employment and PNG-owned supplier participation. Infrastructure Safety: PNG has launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges, updating earthquake risk guidance to improve public safety and engineering standards. Disaster Watch: A 5.8 earthquake struck near PNG’s northern coast; officials reported no immediate damage and agencies are monitoring for aftershocks. Regional Tech Governance: Pacific Foreign Ministers backed new AI and safer digital space principles as connectivity expands across undersea cables. STEM Pathways: A PNG student is heading to India for electrical engineering under a STEM scholarship, highlighting how reliable power shapes learning opportunities. Mining Update: Great Pacific Gold expanded known gold mineralisation at its Wild Dog Project, extending Elamaraka and Kargalio vein systems. ADB Funding Pipeline: PNG is set to receive about K5.2b in new Asian Development Bank projects covering transport, energy, water, health, education and agriculture. Vehicle Market: Perodua PNG launched the Traz SUV, pitching value, safety and efficiency for PNG driving conditions.

Earthquake Watch: A 5.8-magnitude quake struck Papua New Guinea’s north coast (reported by GFZ), with no immediate damage reports, reminding PNG’s Ring of Fire exposure. Engineering Safety: PNG launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges, updating earthquake risk guidance with support from Geoscience Australia to improve infrastructure resilience. Digital Governance: Pacific foreign ministers backed new AI rules and safer digital space principles, as all Forum members now connect via undersea cables. STEM & Power Access: A Central/Milne Bay student is heading to India for electrical engineering under PNG’s STEM scholarships, driven by rural electricity reliability gaps. Gas & LNG Momentum: Pasca A Gas cleared its National Content Plan, while Papua LNG keeps moving with Daewoo E&C named preferred for key LNG facility work—both pushing local jobs and major energy development. Mining Update: Great Pacific Gold expanded gold mineralisation at its Wild Dog Project, extending Elamaraka and Kargalio vein systems. Education & Media Skills: DWU journalism students showcased research on contemporary PNG issues, supported by ExxonMobil PNG and Post-Courier. Science Curiosity: A University of Utah study links the “tiny people” hallucination to the mushroom Lanmaoa asiatica, adding another PNG-relevant thread to research on unusual fungi.

STEM & Research: Divine Word University final-year journalism students in Madang showcased research on contemporary PNG issues, with ExxonMobil PNG backing the poster presentation and a strong push for accuracy and responsible reporting. Infrastructure Safety: PNG launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges in Port Moresby, updating earthquake risk guidance and raising engineering standards for safer, more resilient structures. Energy & LNG: Daewoo E&C was named preferred bidder for key Papua LNG work, while TotalEnergies’ Papua LNG project continues toward a 2026 final investment decision. Gas Local Benefits: Pasca A Gas received approval for its National Content Plan, aiming to expand training, jobs, and PNG-owned business participation. Mining Tech: Great Pacific Gold expanded known gold mineralisation at its Wild Dog Project after new mapping and channel sampling at the Elamaraka and Kargalio vein systems. Digital Governance: Pacific Foreign Ministers backed regional AI principles and safer digital spaces as connectivity grows across the region. Power & Skills: A Milne Bay student won a STEM scholarship to study electrical engineering in India, highlighting how unreliable rural electricity affects learning. Education Administration: NCD took over education services in Port Moresby under a decentralisation handover.

Infrastructure Resilience: Papua New Guinea has launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges, updating earthquake risk guidance and engineering requirements after the last manual dates back to 1985. Digital Governance: Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers backed new AI and safer digital-space principles, with a regional AI governance framework and phased work to protect young people as connectivity expands. STEM & Skills: PNG’s STEM Overseas Scholarship Programme has grown to more than 360 students studying abroad, while a separate story highlights a student heading to India for electrical engineering. Energy & LNG Engineering: TotalEnergies has selected Daewoo Engineering & Construction as preferred EPC bidder for Papua LNG’s central processing facility and wellpads, targeting a final investment decision in 2026. Gas Local Benefits: The Pasca A Gas Project received approval for its National Content Plan, aiming to boost training, jobs and PNG-owned business participation. Mining Update: Great Pacific Gold says mapping and sampling at its Wild Dog Project expanded known gold mineralisation at the Elamaraka and Kargalio vein systems. Education Administration: NCD has taken greater control of education services, with NCDC assuming responsibility for the capital’s education division.

Hallucination Science: University of Utah researchers have genomically confirmed that the mushroom Lanmaoa asiatica can trigger “tiny people” visions when eaten undercooked, with reports of 3–30cm figures obeying gravity for days—yet no known classic psychedelic genes detected. PNG Infrastructure Safety: Papua New Guinea launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges, updating earthquake risk guidance and pushing “engineering must be based on science” after a 1985 standard. Gas & LNG Engineering: TotalEnergies has picked Daewoo Engineering & Construction as preferred bidder for major Papua LNG work, including the central processing facility and wellpads, with a final investment decision targeted for 2026. Digital Governance: Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers backed regional AI principles and safer digital space plans as connectivity expands via undersea cables. STEM & Power Access: A PNG student received a STEM scholarship path to electrical engineering in India, citing unreliable rural electricity as a barrier to study. Mining Update: Great Pacific Gold says mapping and sampling at its Wild Dog Project expanded known gold mineralisation at the Elamaraka and Kargalio vein systems. Agriculture Investment: IFC targets K1.5bn in agriculture investment in PNG by 2030 under the AgriConnect initiative.

Infrastructure & Safety: PNG launched a revised seismic design manual for bridges, updating earthquake risk guidance and pushing “engineering must be based on science” after a 1985 standard served for about 40 years. Energy & Skills: Pasca A Gas won approval for its National Content Plan, aiming to boost training, jobs and PNG-owned suppliers; meanwhile, PNGDF and ADF engineers teamed up in Lae for Exercise Pukpuk 2026 to deliver practical works. Digital Policy: Pacific Ministers backed regional AI principles and safer digital spaces as connectivity expands via undersea cables, with a governance framework planned for leaders’ review. STEM & Education: The STEM Overseas Scholarship Programme now supports 360+ students studying abroad, and NCD formally took over education services in Port Moresby. LNG & Industry: TotalEnergies selected Daewoo E&C as preferred bidder for Papua LNG CPF and wellpads EPSCC, targeting FID in 2H 2026. Agriculture Investment: IFC is targeting K1.5bn in agriculture investment by 2030 under AgriConnect. Science Curiosity: Researchers linked “tiny people” hallucinations to the mushroom Lanmaoa asiatica, including accounts from China and the Philippines.

LNG & Energy Deals: TotalEnergies is pushing Papua LNG forward with Daewoo Engineering & Construction picked as preferred EPC bidder for the central processing facility and wellpads, as the project targets a final investment decision in 2H 2026. National Content & Jobs: The Pasca A Gas Project has won approval for its National Content Plan, aiming to boost training, employment and PNG business participation. Security & Training: PNGDF and Australia’s defence engineers are working together in Lae for Exercise Pukpuk 2026, focused on practical engineering works and stronger regional ties. Digital Policy: PNG has opened public consultation on data protection, cybersecurity and verifiable credentials bills, covering biometric safeguards and rules for identity services. STEM & Skills: PNG’s STEM Overseas Scholarship Programme has expanded to 360+ students studying abroad, while Divine Word University marks major growth and a strategic plan launch. Science & Curiosity: Researchers link a mushroom species to “tiny people” hallucinations, with DNA tying reports from China and the Philippines. Education Governance: NCD has taken full control of education services in the capital under the decentralised structure.

Mushroom Science: Researchers say the “tiny people” hallucinations linked to undercooked wild mushrooms can be traced to one species, Lanmaoa asiatica, with DNA matching reports from Southwest China and the northern Philippines—locals in Yunnan warn diners to cook it fully. LNG Engineering: TotalEnergies has named Daewoo E&C as preferred bidder for the Papua LNG central processing facility and wellpads, targeting a final investment decision in late 2026 for a project producing about 6 million tonnes of LNG a year. Digital ID & Cyber Laws: PNG is consulting on three bills covering data protection, cybersecurity, and verifiable credentials—biometrics would get heightened safeguards, with fines up to K1 million for breaches. Education & Skills: Marape told Unitech to provide acquittals for K141 million in government funding and launched a new School of Petroleum Engineering at Unitech, with the first Bachelor intake due in 2027. Energy for Remote Telecoms: Polar Power says repeat orders are expanding solar-hybrid power for broadband in the Pacific, including 15 more Solomon Islands sites after successful 2024 deployments. Disaster Readiness: The U.S. and PNG partners are running a four-day disaster management field training in Morobe to strengthen province-level response to floods, landslides and maritime emergencies.

Digital Identity & Cybersecurity: PNG has opened public consultation on three bills covering data protection, cybersecurity, and verifiable credentials—aimed at strengthening its SevisPass/SevisWallet digital ID ecosystem, including tighter rules for biometric data and penalties for breaches. Disaster Readiness: The U.S. Embassy and PNG partners are running a four-day disaster management field training in Morobe to improve province-level response to floods, landslides and maritime emergencies. Earthquake Monitoring: Australia handed over specialist seismic equipment for the LaeShakeAware project, boosting community-based earthquake monitoring and faster local decision-making. Solar Skills & Energy Access: The International Solar Alliance will set up a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre at Don Bosco Technological Institute in Port Moresby to train installers and operators. Off-Grid Power for Telecom: Polar Power says repeat orders are expanding solar-hybrid systems across Pacific telecom sites, including new orders for the Solomon Islands. STEM Capacity Building: PNG’s STEM scholarship programme has now supported about 470 students overseas since 2023, with another 137 departing for studies. Petroleum Engineering Pipeline: Unitech’s new School of Petroleum Engineering was launched to build local expertise for PNG’s oil and gas sector. Science Spotlight: Researchers have linked “tiny people” hallucinations to a specific wild mushroom species, with DNA work pointing to the same culprit across PNG, China and the Philippines.

University Funding & Accountability: PM James Marape told Unitech to provide acquittals for seven years of K141m in government infrastructure funding, praising its clean record and pushing stronger reporting and international course accreditation. Digital ID & Privacy: PNG opened public consultation on three bills covering data protection, cybersecurity, and verifiable credentials, including tighter rules for biometric data, consent, encryption, and penalties up to one million kina. Oil & Gas Skills Pipeline: Unitech launched a new School of Petroleum Engineering, with the first Bachelor intake due in 2027, aiming to build local engineers for PNG’s petroleum and energy projects. Disaster Readiness: PNG and the U.S. ran a four-day disaster management and humanitarian assistance field training in Morobe, strengthening province-level coordination for floods, landslides and maritime emergencies. Solar Power for Connectivity: Polar Power reported $7.9m in Pacific Islands revenue since 2024 and repeat orders for solar-hybrid systems to expand broadband in remote telecom sites. Climate & Water Stress: El Niño is already pressuring water supplies, with Port Moresby preparing for partial shutdowns to repair a leaking pipeline. STEM Scholarships: PNG’s STEM programme has now supported about 470 students overseas since 2023, including a new group of 137 leaving for further studies. Esports on the Rise: PNG Esports will send both men’s and women’s teams to Oceania qualifiers online, with the women’s Mobile Legends team making its first international appearance.

Education & Energy Skills: PNG CORE backed UNITECH’s new School of Petroleum Engineering, with the first Bachelor intake due in 2027, aiming to grow local engineers for oil, gas and energy projects. Digital Governance: PNG is seeking feedback on proposed laws to overhaul its digital ID and data protection framework, while SevisWallet adds new verifiable credentials for everyday services. Solar Training: The International Solar Alliance will set up a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) at Don Bosco Technological Institute in Port Moresby to train installers and technicians for solar systems at scale. STEM Pipeline: PNG’s STEM scholarship programme has now supported about 470 students overseas since 2023, including a new 137-scholar group heading out for studies. Science Breakthrough: Researchers say the “tiny people” mushroom hallucinations seen in PNG and elsewhere trace back to a single rare mushroom species, linked to a previously unknown hallucinogenic compound. Climate Pressure: El Niño is already stressing water and food supplies across the Pacific, with PNG residents preparing for possible water disruptions in Port Moresby. Off-grid Power for Connectivity: Polar Power received orders for 15 more solar hybrid power systems in the Solomon Islands, supporting broadband expansion.

Regional Security: Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko hit out at China’s nuclear-capable missile test in the Pacific, saying it was “totally inappropriate” despite advance notice and calls for restraint. Off-Grid Power for Telecom: Polar Power won orders for 15 more Solar Hybrid Power Systems in the Solomon Islands, building on 2024 deployments to keep broadband running in remote communities. Disaster Tech: Australia handed over specialist earthquake monitoring equipment for the LaeShakeAware project, strengthening community-based seismic monitoring in Morobe. Solar Skills: The International Solar Alliance will set up STAR-C training at Don Bosco Technological Institute in Port Moresby to scale solar installation and maintenance capacity. Climate Pressure: El Niño is already stressing water and food supplies across the Pacific, with Fiji warning of possible drastic measures and PNG preparing for Port Moresby pipeline repairs. STEM Pipeline: PNG’s STEM scholarship programme has now supported 470 students overseas since 2023, with another 137 scholars set to depart. Tuna Economy: PNG will host the Pacific-led Tuna Economy Dialogue in October to build partnerships for a sustainable regional tuna economy.

STEM Scholarships: PNG’s STEM scholarship programme has now backed 470 students overseas since 2023, with 137 more scholars farewelled for studies abroad under Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra. Solar Skills & Deployment: The International Solar Alliance deepened its PNG partnership and announced a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) at Don Bosco Technological Institute to build local capacity for solar installation and maintenance. Digital ICT Showcase: THEODIST highlighted local ICT capability at DTS26, pitching enterprise AI, mobility, digital media and power continuity solutions for PNG’s digital public ecosystem. Housing Advance Online Support: Nasfund restarted virtual Housing Advance education sessions, using the online format to address member confusion and push for superannuation law reforms. Health Supply Risk: A new look at Manus province warns that delayed budget release and weak execution are linked to medicine shortages felt at clinics and aid posts. Public Service University Land Deal: UPNG and SILAG signed an MoU to secure land tenure, moving PNG closer to a dedicated Public Service University. Marine Protection Survey: Pristine Seas is heading to Samoa to survey biodiversity across new marine protected areas, supporting the country’s push to protect 30% of its ocean. Mining Drilling Update: Great Pacific Gold began diamond drilling at the Magiabe target in East New Britain as part of a wider 2026 campaign. Wildlife & Science: Scientists also reported DNA-linked findings on the mushroom behind “tiny people” hallucinations, tying the effect to a single species across distant communities.

STEM & Skills Pipeline: PNG has sent 137 young scholars overseas under its national STEM scholarship programme, bringing support since 2023 to about 470, with studies spanning medicine, engineering and more. Solar Capacity Building: The International Solar Alliance deepened its PNG partnership and announced a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) at Don Bosco Technological Institute to help local teams install and maintain solar systems. Digital ICT Showcase: THEODIST highlighted local ICT and AI capability at DTS26, pitching enterprise solutions for PNG’s digital public ecosystem. Health Supply Risk: A new look at Manus province warns that delayed budget execution can translate into medicine shortages at clinics and aid posts, even when funding is allocated. Mining Tech & Expansion: K92 Mining reported strong Q2 2026 results and progress on its Stage 3 expansion, with record ore processing and recoveries. Energy Resilience for Trade: Australia-backed backup power systems are being installed at PNG ports to keep communications and port services running during outages. Biodiversity & Community Monitoring: On Managalas Plateau, trained Biodiversity Team Leaders are using local knowledge plus tech skills to track flora and fauna for better conservation decisions. Wildlife & Science Curiosity: A study on “mushroom madness” links the same hallucination-causing mushroom species across distant communities, adding a new biology angle to a long-running mystery.

WWII Remains Identified: The Australian Army has identified the remains of Lt Hercules William Crawford, missing since Aug 8, 1942 during the Kokoda Campaign, as an “Unknown Soldier” grave in PNG’s Bomana War Cemetery—ending decades of uncertainty for Kokoda historians and his family. Education & AI: PNG has launched its first Integrated ICT Policy and EduNex AI-powered Learning Management System to digitise teaching and learning nationwide, aiming to connect schools and standardise classroom support. Public Service University Land Deal: UPNG and SILAG have signed an MoU to formalise land tenure, paving the way for PNG’s first dedicated Public Service University. Health Tech in the Highlands: A PNG-Australia cervical cancer elimination programme is expanding access to HPV screening and rapid GeneXpert testing at Mt Hagen, with treatment and vaccination for eligible women and girls. Biodiversity Skills on Managalas Plateau: Managalas Conservation Foundation and partners are training local Biodiversity Team Leaders to track flora and fauna across clan-owned landscapes, supporting future biodiversity credits. Mining Drilling Update: Great Pacific Gold has started diamond drilling at the Magiabe Vein target in East New Britain, following work at Kasie Ridge. Digital Entertainment Launches: Kina789 and Wepay7 have rolled out online gaming platforms across Papua New Guinea, targeting mobile-friendly access and integrated play.