CREATING WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE
We are focused on consolidating our position as the State’s nominee in all future oil and gas developments, including the expansion of the PNG LNG Project; the Papua LNG project, operated by Total SA and Pasca A, the first offshore project operated by Twinza Oil.
OUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
KPHL is the State’s nominee through its subsidiary Kroton in the ExxonMobil operated PNG LNG project. KPHL’s 16.57% participating interest is the third largest share in this multi-field, multi-party integrated venture that has a development cost of over US$ 19 billion and includes a gas conditioning plant upstream in Hides; a combined 700 kilometres of on-shore and offshore pipeline and a two train LNG plant near Port Moresby. The PNG LNG Project is producing over 8 million tonnes of gas per annum and will produce over 9TCF of gas over 20 years.
Its 138 rooms were designed in a very different style by French architect Jacques Garcia, drawing out the European and Asian history of the building.
Not surprisingly, the two hotels have won Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Awards.
Duxton Road itself has an interesting history as it was where the rickshaw drivers parked their rickshaws in the 19th century. Later it became a slum, noted for its brothels and opium and gambling dens. Today the shophouses form part of the Tanjong Pagar conservation area.
Singapore has been listing its old buildings since the 1970s and more than 7000 buildings have conservation status. As the modern city of skyscrapers grew, the authorities realised the history and memory of place needed to be preserved for future generations.
Shophouses were built from the mid-19th to mid-20th century and range from neoclassical, Chinese baroque and rococo to tropical deco and modernist.
Walking through Chinatown, near Ann Siang Road, I see many of these colourful former
shophouses are now operating as small businesses such as boutiques, cafes, restaurants and even shared workspaces.
One night I dine early and beat the queue at the reasonably priced Coconut Club, which earned a mention in the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand good value section. It occupies a lovely old shophouse that has been stripped back to its bare essentials.
Also nearby, on Neil Road, are two shophouses that have been restored by the Urban Development Authority to show how people traditionally lived. Number 9 Neil Road is home to a tea house, Tea Chapter. Built in the 1890s, number 157 Neil Road is one of the city’s few untouched Straits-Chinese houses. It was originally the home of the descendants of 19th-century shipping tycoon Wee Bin. It was restored in 2008 and the interior shows how the Peranakan (or Straits-Chinese) community lived in the early 20th century.
Tours are offered five times a week but bookings are essential (babahouse.nus.edu.sg).
Air Niugini flies from Port Moresby to Singapore five times weekly. See airniugini.com.pg.