The Spineless Surrender of US$3 billion (K12 billion) in fresh tax concessions by the Marape Government: A National Disgrace

by PAUL L. KEBAIJA

The Marape-Rosso regime has reached a new low of pathetic weakness and the Papua LNG project exposes it for all to see. Once upon a time, James Marape stormed into power waving the fiery banner of “Take Back PNG,” vowing to rip up sweetheart deals, seize control of our resources, and make multinationals bow to Papua New Guineans. Six years later, that empty slogan has collapsed into a humiliating, cap-in-hand grovel. Instead of owning the Elk-Antelope gas fields, his government is now desperately preparing to hand over up to US$3 billion (K12 billion) in fresh tax concessions and “support packages” to TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil and Santos just to beg them to keep the project alive.

This is not negotiation. This is national surrender.

In 2019, FID was supposed to be months away. Marape’s arrogant grandstanding and endless renegotiations killed the momentum. Costs exploded from US$12 billion to nearly US$18 billion before being “optimised” to US$14–15 billion. A US$2.5 billion funding black hole remains. The Final Investment Decision, once promised for 2023, then 2024, then Q1 2026, has now been kicked further down the road again. And what is Marape’s answer? Not strength. Not “take back.” Cabinet is being bullied right now to rubber-stamp billions in new tax breaks so the foreign giants can still make their fat returns while PNG bleeds.⁠Thenational

Former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has nailed it without mercy: Marape is “bending over backwards” to global developers, “sacrificing billions in national revenue” and “negotiating against our own people.” That K12 billion giveaway, Peter O'Neill, MP rightly says, could have built hospitals, schools, roads and restored law and order. Instead it will line the pockets of corporations while ordinary Papua New Guineans wait for the crumbs that never come. Opposition Leader James Nomane has repeatedly grilled Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina in Parliament, demanding to know why six years of delay have produced nothing but excuses. The answer is simple: weak, indecisive, inexperienced leadership.⁠Thenational

This is the same government that lectures us about sovereignty while the country stays trapped on the international grey list because of “weak enforcement, lack of coordination and failure to recover stolen assets.” The same government that promised transformation but delivered chronic political chaos, no-confidence motions and policy paralysis. Every major project Wafi-Golpu included sits in the same humiliating limbo. Banks are fleeing the Papua LNG deal in droves over ESG risks precisely because they smell PNG’s desperation and fragile governance.

Even the much-hyped 22.5% state equity stake is worthless if the project never launches. By creating the very delays and cost blowouts through arrogance and incompetence, Marape has trapped himself. Now he must choose: look tough for the voters or crawl on his knees for the investors. Predictably, he chooses the latter.

This is the behaviour of a failed, frightened administration that talks big but governs small. It is the behaviour of leaders who have lost the plot, lost the respect of their own people, and lost any claim to strength.

Papua New Guineans did not vote for a government that would turn “Take Back PNG” into “Give Away PNG.” They deserve leaders who negotiate from power, not panic. Until Marape and his spineless Cabinet learn that lesson, every resource project will be another symbol of a weak government selling out the future for short-term political survival.