In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Palau says partnership with the U.S makes it safer as tensions grow
2. PNG — PNG PM Marape calls PNGDF for calm, discipline and order
3. SAMOA — Drug crisis hits Sāmoa as families caught in growing Pacific trade
4. B/VILLE — Bougainville SOE Controller issues Emergency Orders
5. FIJI — Fiji strengthens awareness of amended Environment Law
6. UN — ‘Time for diplomacy over escalation’ in Middle East war: Guterres
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Aviation Exams now available in Samoa
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fuel subsidy to be placed in Central Bank as PNG Government reviews Napanapa refinery capacity
9. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG’s long-term potential undeterred: China Railway
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Cash crop production sends Papua New Guinea’s shipping volumes soaring
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Hazardous cargo compensation regime moves to entry into force
12. PACNEWS INFOCUS — Building capacity of Pacific countries to report on important milestone in the implementation of the Paris Agreement 4–5 minutes
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Six questions about greylisting that every Papua New Guinean business exec should be asking
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Deep-sea wildernesses are more important than the promise of seafloor mining
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Palau says partnership with the U.S makes it safer as tensions grow
WELLINGTON, 15 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—Palau’s President says his country is safer , not more at risk, because of its close ties with the United States.
Speaking on PMN during his first official visit to New Zealand, Surangel Whipps Jr said the partnership with Washington is a key part of protecting his nation in an increasingly contested region.
“I believe it’s safer,” Whipps said when asked whether alignment with the U.S makes Palau more vulnerable.
Across the Pacific, countries are facing growing pressure as competition between the United States and China intensifies.
For small island states like Palau, the challenge is how to protect their sovereignty while maintaining economic and political balance.
Whipps pointed to Palau’s Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the U.S, which gives Washington responsibility for the country’s defence.
He said recent upgrades including radar sites and improvements to ports and airports are about protection, not provocation.
“[They] are just ensuring that they can better defend Palau,” the President told PMN. “That’s the way I look at it.
“I think many times you say, well, that’s bringing risk. Well, I think to be idle, you’re susceptible. So we like to say presence is deterrence. You want peace, you have to show strength.”
At the same time, Whipps acknowledged growing concerns about activity in Palau’s waters, particularly involving China.
He said there have been incidents of vessels entering Palau’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without notice as well as disputes over maritime claims.
In August 2024, Palauan authorities reported an unauthorised entry by a Chinese vessel into its waters.
In 2021, another Chinese survey ship was tracked operating in Palau’s EEZ for several days. Authorities said at the time they were concerned about possible seabed mapping.
Palau has also reported other maritime encounters in its EEZ in recent years, which it says highlight the need for stronger monitoring of waters.
Despite these incidents, China has rejected allegations of wrongdoing in the region, with a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying its vessels operate lawfully and within international laws.
Palau continues to rely on international visitors, including tourists from China, and is working to avoid overdependence on any one country.
“So one of the things that we’ve worked very hard on is ensuring that we have a diversified tourism market so we’re not so dependent on one country,” Whipps said.
“So in striking a balance, I think we need to make sure that we’re managing and mitigating against all those risks so that no one country is saying, you must do this, otherwise we’ll retaliate.”
Whipps is due to host the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum where regional leaders are expected to discuss shared challenges including security and external influence.
Analysts say Pacific countries are trying to walk a careful line, keeping long-standing security ties with partners like the U.S, Australia, and New Zealand while also managing growing economic links with China.
Whipps said the priority for Palau is clear.
“For us, it’s important to have partners that are willing to defend our sovereignty because we would never be able to protect ourselves.
“So our strategic relationship with the United States is important for our security and our sovereignty,” he said…..PACNEWS
PNG – DEFENCE: EMTV PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
PNG PM Marape calls PNGDF for calm, discipline and order
PORT MORESBY, 15 APRIL 2026 (EMTV)—-Prime Minister James Marape has called for immediate calm, discipline, and a return to duty among members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force following reports of unrest and an illegal roadblock involving some personnel at Murray Barracks.
The Prime Minister said the situation is limited to a small group and does not reflect the professionalism and discipline of the broader Defence Force, noting that all other command posts remain stable and operational.
“As Prime Minister and Defence Minister, I call on all personnel currently involved in these activities to immediately cease, return to barracks, and report to their respective commanding officers,” Marape said.
“Discipline is the foundation of our Defence Force, and any actions that undermine order and stability will not be tolerated.”
Prime Marape also issued a firm warning against acts of indiscipline, including unlawful gatherings, roadblocks, and any conduct that threatens public safety.
“Those who continue to engage in unlawful or disorderly conduct risk being identified and subjected to disciplinary action, including dismissal,” he said.
He also acknowledged that some individuals may have acted under distress or misinformation and urged them to act responsibly and in the best interests of the nation.
“This is not the standard expected of our Defence Force. We are building a modern, disciplined, and professional force that Papua New Guinea can be proud of, one that can stand alongside regional partners and uphold national security with honour.”
Prime Minister Marape confirmed that he has directed the Defence Force Commander to suspend ongoing internal investigative processes relating to recent recruitment concerns, pending a broader independent review sanctioned by Cabinet.
The independent investigation will be led by the Chief Secretary, supported by the State Solicitor and an external high-level team, to ensure a fair, transparent, and comprehensive assessment of all issues, including recruitment practices and any allegations raised.
He said the decision to pause internal disciplinary processes is intended to uphold natural justice and protect all personnel while the independent review is conducted.
“All officers are to be considered innocent until the full investigation is completed. Those who have raised concerns through proper channels will be protected,” he said.
He further confirmed that the substantive Defense minister has stepped aside to allow the review process to proceed independently.
Marape stressed that the Government remains committed to strengthening the Defence Force through improved recruitment standards, leadership accountability, and institutional integrity.
He noted that Papua New Guinea is currently managing multiple national challenges, including natural disasters and global economic pressures, and emphasised the need for stability within the country’s disciplined forces.
“At a time when our country is responding to disasters and economic pressures, we cannot afford instability within our disciplined forces,” he said.
He reiterated that the independent investigation is already underway and will be completed within a defined timeframe, with its findings to guide further action.
He urged all members of the Defence Force to uphold their oath of service and contribute to maintaining peace and order across the country….PACNEWS
SAMOA – DRUGS FIGHT: PMN PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Drug crisis hits Sāmoa as families caught in growing Pacific trade
APIA, 15 APRIL 2206 (PMN)— Drug use is tightening its grip on families in Sāmoa, with leaders warning the crisis is now playing out inside homes.
Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt says the situation has reached a troubling point.
“The worst now is the involvement of parents and children who love, sleep and consume the drug under the same roof,” he says, according to Talamua Media.
That reality is driving a stronger response from authorities trying to stop drugs before they reach communities.
Last week, customs officer Benjamin Milo and detector dog Willow joined the Sāmoa Joint K-9 Unit after completing specialist narcotics training in New Zealand with two newly certified handlers.
Officials say the expanded dog unit will help intercept drugs at the border and support operations on the ground.
“They also support domestic law enforcement operations, including police raids and intelligence-driven interventions,” customs official Lealataua Sophia Lafai-Oloapu said.
Minister of Customs, Masinalupe Leatuavao Makesi Pisi, said the expansion strengthens Sāmoa’s ability to respond to changing threats.
“As challenges of transnational crime continue to evolve, this support is both timely and critical,” he said.
The push comes as drug flows across the Pacific continue to grow, with Sāmoa and New Zealand stepping up cooperation.
“A problem in New Zealand is a problem in the Pacific and vice versa,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the signing in Apia last month.
The deal aims to improve joint operations, intelligence sharing, and training as both countries work to disrupt supply chains linked to organised crime.
Sāmoa is also tightening its own systems. Mandatory drug testing has been introduced for public servants and new government job applicants.
Laaulialemalietoa has already taken a test himself and is calling on others, including senior officials, to do the same.
Police are increasing enforcement, with recent raids leading to charges involving methamphetamine and marijuana.
The police have also been publicly naming those as part of their updates.
Within the police force, compulsory drug testing is now in place – from recruitment through to random and post-incident checks.
Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga said the aim is to maintain public trust and ensure officers are fit to serve.
The changes reflect a wider effort to respond to what officials describe as an escalating problem.
Across the Pacific, governments are facing similar pressure. New supply routes are expanding through the region, adding strain to nations with limited resources.
Research from Massey University’s SHORE and Whariki Research Centre shows methamphetamine supply is increasingly linked to Pacific Islands.
“This is fuelling organised crime and corruption and serious negative health and social impacts in the Pacific, including growing injecting and infection rates of HIV, but also family harm and community stress,” Professor Chris Wilkins said.
For Sāmoa, the message is clear: this is no longer just a border issue. It is a problem affecting families, communities, and the region as a whole…..PACNEWS
B/VILLE – STATE OF EMERGENCY: ABG GOVT PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Bougainville SOE Controller issues Emergency orders
BUKA, 15 APRIL 2026 (ABG GOVT) — The Bougainville Emergency Controller, Chief Secretary Kearnneth Nanei, has issued the first set of Emergency Orders under the declared State of Emergency (SOE), establishing a unified command structure and activating a full-scale response to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Maila.
The Emergency Orders confirm that the entire Autonomous region of Bougainville remains under a State of Emergency, with all emergency operations, including those by government agencies, statutory bodies, development partners and international responders, centrally coordinated through the Office of the Emergency Controller to ensure a unified and efficient response.
A central command centre has been established in Buka, supported by Regional Operational Centres and led respectively by Regional Community Government Directors:
• Buka (Northern Region and Nissan/Atolls) led by Abraham Bunei and Tony Kauworo
• Arawa (Central Region) led by Michael Otoroa
• Buin (Southern Region) led by Clara Momoi
These teams will coordinate closely with District Management Teams, Community Governments as first responders, and key stakeholders including churches, civil society organisations and the private sector.
The Emergency Orders activate a structured three-phase response plan:
• Immediate (0–7 days): Life-saving interventions and rapid assessments in identified “hot spot” areas including Panguna, Kongara 1, Torokina, Bana, Tinputz, Siwai, the Atolls and the West Coast, alongside aerial assessments of isolated “blind spot” areas.
• Short to Medium Term (1–4 weeks): Community stabilisation, restoration of critical infrastructure including roads, and distribution of essential WASH and medical supplies.
• Long Term (1–3 months): Recovery and resilience efforts, including permanent reconstruction of key infrastructure such as the Ramazon Bridge and seawalls in the Atolls.
The Orders further instruct that all essential public services will continue to operate throughout the State of Emergency.
Health facilities and government offices are to remain fully operational, while schools across Bougainville are scheduled to resume on April 20, 2026, in line with the Department of Education Circular No.2/2026.
The Emergency Controller retains the authority to restrict or suspend services in specific locations where safety risks are identified, based on ongoing assessments.
All government agencies, partners and stakeholders are required to provide continuous situation reports to the Emergency Operations Centre to support a coordinated and data-driven response.
The ABG calls on all citizens to comply with the Emergency Orders and support response efforts across their communities….PACNEWS
FIJI – ENVIROMENT: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Fiji strengthens awareness of amended Environment Law
SUVA, 15 APRIL 2026 (FBC NEWS)—A three-day workshop is underway in Fiji to strengthen awareness of the Environment Management Act (Amendment) 2025 and promote Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
Permanent Secretary for Environment, Dr Sivendra Michael, said the updated 20-year-old law addresses long-standing gaps and improves how environmental governance is applied in Fiji.
He stressed that the key challenge is not the law itself, but its consistent implementation.
“The real issue is not the absence of the law, it’s the application of the legislation. And the application of the legislation in a way that we have.”
He said reforms will strengthen compliance and coordination across agencies, including improved monitoring of EIA conditions and a more streamlined review process.
SPREP Director for Environmental Governance, Jope Davetanivalu, highlighted the importance of integrity, collaboration, and integrating gender considerations into environmental decision-making.
The workshop aims to improve understanding of the amended Act and ensure more consistent, inclusive environmental assessments nationwide….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Wed 15 Apr 2026
‘Time for diplomacy over escalation’ in Middle East war: Guterres
NEW YORK, 15 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)–As the war in the Middle East continues, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a passionate call for “serious negotiations” between the US and Iran to resume, warning that respect for international law “is being trampled” underfoot.
Addressing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York outside the Security Council, António Guterres said that humanitarian and other legal obligations are being disregarded in the Middle East and elsewhere, breeding chaos, suffering and destruction.
He said the theme of upholding international law would be a central theme of his visit this week to the UN’s highest tribunal in the Hague – the International Court of Justice, amid hopes for renewed talks between Iran and the United States.
The crisis has caused death and devastation across the region, blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz –crucial for global trade in fuel, fertiliser and gas, and left thousands of workers stranded in vessels on the high seas.
“Justice is meant to be blind. But today, too many are choosing to turn a blind eye to justice itself,” the UN chief said.
“Around the world – and starkly in the Middle East – respect for international law is being trampled.”
He insisted that “this is not the moment to retreat from international law. It is the moment to reaffirm it.”
The ICJ – also known as the World Court – marks its 80th anniversary this week.
The UN’s principal judicial organ is a pillar of the international legal order and it “has fulfilled that role with distinction” over this period.
However, the visit “is not simply about commemorating an anniversary. It is about sending an unmistakable message,” he said.
“A message that the United Nations stands firmly behind the institutions and principles designed to protect peace, justice, sovereignty and human dignity,” he continued.
“A message that international law applies to all States, without exception, and that respect for its rules is not optional. A message that in a world moving toward greater fragmentation and sharper power competition, international law is indispensable.”
The Secretary-General warned that “without it, instability spreads, mistrust deepens, and conflicts spiral out of control” – a situation that applies everywhere, but urgently to the conflict in the Middle East.
He repeated his position that there is no military solution to the crisis, adding that peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will.
He stressed that serious negotiations must resume, while international navigational rights and freedoms – including in the Strait of Hormuz – must be respected by all parties.
“It is time for restraint and responsibility,” he said.
“It is time for diplomacy over escalation. It is time for a renewed commitment to international law,” said Guterres……. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SAMOA – AVIATION: TALAMUA ONLINE PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Aviation Exams now available in Samoa
APIA, 15 APRIL 2026 (TALAMUAONLINE)– It has been a long time coming for persons in the aviation industry to finally have exams made available in Samoa.
In the past, anyone who wanted to sit an exam had to go to New Zealand to sit the Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME), Commercial Pilots License (CPL) and Air Traffic Controller License (ATCL). Unless it was government or company funded, this proved to be very costly as the individual would have to pay for his own airfare, accommodation and examination fees.
However, with the examinations now available in country, the major cost is much reduced to the examination fees estimated at SAT$400(US$146) per subject.
This is also a timely step as the Samoan government plans to re-establish its international jet services overseas in the coming year and the need for internationally accredited personnel locally to provide the technical service.
The availability of the exams in country will also be a positive step in drawing more local personnel towards building their careers in the aviation industry.
The exams are Civil Aviation Authority accredited and is delivered and supervised by Aspeq Assessment Specialists…..PACNEWS
PNG – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: EMTV PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Fuel subsidy to be placed in Central Bank as PNG Government reviews Napanapa refinery capacity
PORT MORESBY, 15 APRIL 2026 (EMTV)—The Papua New Guinea Government will place the K1 billion (US$230 million) fuel subsidy with the Central Bank for fuel suppliers to access, while it considers ways to increase fuel storage capacity at the Napanapa Oil Refinery.
This was revealed by Minister for Rural and Economic Development Joseph Leland in Port Moresby.
He said the K1 billion(US$230 million) announced by the Prime Minister to address rising fuel prices will be made available through the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
“We have met with fuel importers, ExxonMobil and Puma. We will be meeting with Ok Tedi shortly to address the fundamentals of the subsidisation and the mechanism of how it will work,” Leland said.
“One of the agreements is that the subsidy will be held in the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea so that when importers place orders, they can be assured that funds are available. They can provide one-, two-, or three-month supply signals to overseas suppliers. This is very important.
The subsidy will go toward the point of purchase and help adjust price differences, particularly when calculating insurance premiums and import parity pricing of fuel coming into the country.”
He said the government will continue to monitor global oil prices and the strength of the US dollar in order to stabilise fuel prices in the country.
In the long term, the government is looking at developing the Napanapa Oil Refinery and increasing its storage capacity.
Leland said discussions are underway with Ok Tedi regarding ZA1 fuel storage capacity and with Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited regarding ongoing work to expand storage tanks.
“The main goal is to secure our fuel supply,” he said.
Independent Consumer and Competition Commission Chief Executive Officer Roy Daggy said the current agreement is legally binding between the State and Puma Energy….PACNEWS
PNG – BUSINESS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 15 Apr 2026
PNG’s long-term potential undeterred: China Railway
PORT MORESBY, 15 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Papua New Guinea is facing rising costs and foreign exchange constraints but has strong long-term potential, supported by natural resources, growing population, and demand for infrastructure, according to a company.
China Railway Construction Group (CRCG) managing director Zhou Wenjiang said during 18 years of operating in the country, it delivered more than 80 projects in the commercial, industrial and public sectors.
“Especially with the coming big projects like Papua LNG, PNG economy will be greatly boomed and there will be diversified opportunities in different sectors,” he said.
“We remain absolute confident in PNG’s future and believe continued investment and cooperation will also support steady and sustainable development.”
Zhou said CRCG’s work in PNG was focused on delivering practical results.
“Over the years, we have contributed to improving infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, and building local skills through hands-on project experience,” he said.
“Many of our projects are closely linked to everyday needs and economic activity, including food production, manufacturing, and urban facilities.
“Meanwhile, during the execution of our projects, we have trained thousands of PNG local workers and engineers, allowing them more skills in the construction field and enabling them more job opportunities.”
Zhou added that the company’s presence reflected cooperation between China and PNG, with each project delivering tangible outcomes that support long-term development.
“CRCG is committed to prospective development of PNG economy and obvious improvement of PNG people’s living standards,” he said.
“We will continue to deliver quality projects, support local employment, and contribute to community development, while strengthening cooperation between China and PNG.”…PACNEWS
PNG – SHIPPING: BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PNG PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Cash crop production sends Papua New Guinea’s shipping volumes soaring
PORT MORESBY, 15 APRIL 2026 (BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PNG)—Papua New Guinea’s two main international ports enjoyed a strong year in 2025. Capital spending programmes are focused on adding capacity in order to prepare for further economic growth, sector leaders tell Business Advantage PNG.
Traffic through PNG’s two busiest international ports rose sharply in 2025, fuelled by higher production of coffee, cocoa and other agricultural commodities.
Exports laden from the South Pacific International Container Terminal in Lae and the Motukea International Terminal near Port Moresby increased 14.6 percent for the year, according to the operator of both ports, ICTSI South Pacific. Imports laden also climbed 11.3 percent, supported by a doubling in ammonium nitrate fertiliser used in the agriculture sector.
“We see the opportunity now to take the next step and start to integrate all of our different logistics units.”
The increase in ships calling into PNG in the second half of 2025 reflects the increase in demand, ICTSI South Pacific CEO Robert Maxwell tells Business Advantage PNG.
In August 2025, Swire Shipping increased the frequency of its North Asia Express service from fortnightly to weekly. In October, ANL launched its APR2 service, connecting Lae and Motukea to ports in China, South Korea and Queensland, Australia.
ICTSI South Pacific is continuing to invest to keep pace with the growth, according to Maxwell.
In Lae, it recently added one mobile harbour crane. At Motukea, it has also added a mobile harbour crane, bringing the total number of cranes to three. It is also working on ‘Project Jupiter’, a battery energy storage system that will protect against power surges and outages from the grid, translating to improved vessel productivity with its electric ship-to-shore cranes.
Similarly, Steamships Logistics is investing in the Joint Venture Port Services business to help ease the movement of products at PNG’s domestic ports.
“We’ve upgraded our capacity, particularly in Lae,” Nick Fisher, Steamships Logistics’ Executive Advisor – Marine Fleet & Investments, tells Business Advantage PNG.
“We’ve added additional cranage on the shoreside, which allows us to be more productive and turn things around faster.”
Steamships is also spending on refleeting and growth projects across its shipping businesses, with a particular focus on Pacific Towing, which provides marine services nationwide and specialised support to the oil and gas sector.
“There’s some fairly incremental growth capex, on the back of increasing volumes,” Fisher says.
He adds that a final investment decision (FID) on Papua LNG or other major resources projects would “necessarily trigger additional growth capex.”
In anticipation of that demand, Steamships is looking to rejuvenate its fleet. “We’re looking to bring in fit-for-purpose tonnage that will be suitable for all the future [resources] projects.”
If Papua LNG does reach an FID this year, then Fisher is confident the domestic shipping sector can meet the demands of the project.
“If you look across ourselves and our competition, that tonnage is generally available in the country,” he says, adding that any additional capacity requirements can be met “fairly quickly” by chartering ships from the international market.
As for the engineering, procurement and construction firms that will be selected by TotalEnergies and its Papua LNG joint venture partners to build the project, Fisher says discussions are already taking place around “who might be able to support that in-country.”
Steamships Logistics has made substantial investments in both its landside and marine fleets, and it will continue to invest in new assets over the next five years, Chris Daniells, Managing Director of parent Steamships Trading Company, tells Business Advantage PNG.
“We see the opportunity now to take the next step and start to integrate all of our different logistics units. So, every time we ship something, we’d like to add a truck to it as well. Warehousing is becoming a much bigger part of what we do,” he says.
“We’re connecting all the dots, so our customers can get everything done in one place, ship it, truck it and store it. PNG has many daily logistics challenges, but we believe that making things easier for our customers is the key to success.”….PACNEWS
UK – SHIPPING: IMO PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 15 Apr 2026
Hazardous cargo compensation regime moves to entry into force
LONDON, 15 APRIL 2026 (IMO)—Four States deposited their instruments of ratification of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 2010 (2010 HNS Convention), bringing the treaty’s entry into force a step closer.
The 2010 HNS Convention aims to ensure adequate, prompt, and effective compensation for those affected by incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) carried on seagoing ships. This is particularly relevant given the increasing amounts of chemicals and alternative fuels being transported in bulk by sea.
There are now 12 Contracting States to the 2010 Protocol to the HNS Convention, meeting the number of States criteria for entry into force. The treaty requires at least 12 States to express their consent to be bound by it, including four States each with not less than 2 million units of gross tonnage. Five of the eight States which had previously ratified the treaty had more than 2 million units of gross tonnage each.
The Protocol additionally requires States to submit to the IMO Secretary-General at the deposit of the instrument of ratification and annually thereafter, on or before 31 May (until the Protocol enters into force for that State), data on the total quantities of HNS contributing cargo liable for contributions received in that State during the preceding calendar year.
The 2010 HNS Protocol will enter into force 18 months after the contracting Parties have received during the preceding calendar year a total quantity of at least 40 million tonnes of cargo contributing to the HNS general account.
The total quantity received by Belgium, Germany, the Kingdom of Netherlands and Sweden in 2025 is almost 28 million tonnes of HNS contributing cargo.
This means that the HNS contributing cargo data received by existing 8 contracting States in 2025 (they received a total of more than 22 million HNS contributing cargo in 2024) will be assessed after 31 May 2026, in order to confirm the entry into force date 18 months later, i.e. 30 November 2027 the earliest.
The representatives of Belgium Jeroen Cooreman, Ambassador of Belgium to the UK and Permanent Representative to the IMO, Germany Susanne Baumann Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the IMO, the Kingdom of the Netherlands Annemijn van den Broek, Deputy Head of mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom and Sweden Stefan Gullgren, Ambassador of Sweden to the United Kingdom deposited their instruments of ratification on the sidelines of the IMO Legal Committee, which is meeting for its 113th session (13-17 April).
The deposits were welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and Director of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC) Gaute Sivertsen….PACNEWS
PACNEWS INFOCUS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Building capacity of Pacific countries to report on important milestone in the implementation of the Paris Agreement 4–5 minutes
APIA, 15 APRIL 2026 (SPREP)—- Representatives from Pacific countries are gathering in Samoa to build their capacity to be able to report under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), an important milestone in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, that establishes standardised, mandatory procedures for countries to report on their climate actions.
The Workshop on the use of the ETF Reporting Tools for Pacific Island Countries is taking place at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) hosted at SPREP’s Vailima headquarters from 14-17 April. The training, organised by SPREP and supported by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, is funded with UK International Development assistance from the UK Government.
“It is always a pleasure to host our members here at our SPREP headquarters and I’d like to welcome you all,” said SPREP’s Climate Change Adviser, Tim Breese, who is also Officer in Charge of the Climate Change Resilience programme.
“The workshop has been intentionally designed to be hands-on, with practical exercises and interactive activities so that participants can take back a number of learnings to enhance their national transparency processes.”
“SPREP would like to acknowledge, with sincere thanks, the United Kingdom, as this project is funded with UK International Development assistance from the UK Government,” added Breese. “We encourage you to fully engage with all that this training has to offer.”
The ETF provides the guidelines for a centralised global reporting system that allows the UNFCCC to track progress on how Parties are advancing their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and how they are adapting to climate change.
It builds upon the system for reporting that was already in place under the Convention. The first reports under the Paris Agreement to the ETF were due by 31 December 2024 at the very latest.
For this to happen countries had to agree on when the Paris Agreement’s ETF would replace the existing transparency arrangements and on the specific provisions, guidelines and processes for reporting and review.
Lornaliza Kogler, Team Lead Information Unit in the Transparency Division of the UNFCCC Secretariat, said the UNFCCC was delighted to partner with SPREP to deliver the training.
“The Enhanced Transparency Framework marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Paris Agreement,” she said.
“In this context, the ETF reporting tools play a key role. They are designed to support Parties in compiling and presenting information in a structured and harmonized way, while also facilitating review and assessment. Making the most of these tools really depends on close collaboration between policy and technical experts—exactly the mix of expertise we have in the room.”
The workshop this week has been designed to support Pacific countries in this process.
“Over the coming days, you will have the chance to explore each of the reporting tools in detail, better understand how they work in practice, and clarify any questions you may have. Just as importantly, it is an opportunity to exchange experiences and learn from one another.”
Pacific Islands contribute to less than 0.03 percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions yet we are amongst the most vulnerable to its impacts.
It’s the effects of climate change that have led our Pacific Leaders to declare that climate change is the greatest existential threat to the security of our livelihoods.
The work in Samoa this week on the ETF continues the Pacific’s legacy and leadership on climate action.
To understand the Enhanced Transparency Framework, click here.
The “Hands on training workshop on the use of the ETF Reporting Tools for Pacific Island Countries” will be held from 14 to 17 April 2026 in Apia Samoa. The training is funded with UK International Development from the UK Government. It is organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme with the support of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. ……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Six questions about greylisting that every Papua New Guinean business exec should be asking
By John Burke
PORT MORESBY, 15 APRIL 2026 (BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PNG) –In February, the Financial Action Task Force added Papua New Guinea to its “grey list” of jurisdictions under increased monitoring.
In this exclusive opinion piece for Business Advantage PNG, John Burke, an expert in AML/CTF compliance for PNG, shares how businesses can maintain their banking relationships and stay ahead of the regulator.
In February 2026, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placed PNG on its “grey list” of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. PNG has committed at a political level to fixing strategic deficiencies, but its systems for detecting and prosecuting money laundering and terrorist financing are not yet meeting global standards.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of prosecutions, asset seizures, or the quality of suspicious matter reporting could not be demonstrated to the FATF and greylisting is the consequence.
“Many business owners assume greylisting is a problem only for banks. It is not.”
Why the machinery failed
Compliance is often treated as a box-ticking exercise rather than a core business function, particularly in smaller, non-banking businesses. Staff have not traditionally had formal risk assessment frameworks or training, have no structured approach to customer due diligence, and are rarely given the seniority or board access needed to escalate concerns.
This is not a criticism of individuals. It is a failure of organisational design. When compliance sits in a corner with no budget, no technology, and no mandate from the board, the outcome is fairly predictable.
The net is wider than you think
Many business owners assume greylisting is a problem only for banks. It is not. Under the AML/CTF Act 2015, the Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit’s (FASU, a unit of the Bank of Papua New Guinea) reach extends to every commercial bank, microfinance institution, savings and loan society, and finance company. But it goes well beyond financial services.
High-value goods dealers, including motor vehicle dealers, heavy machinery suppliers, marine craft sellers, and gold exporters, are reporting entities if they receive cash payments of K20,000 or more. So are law firms, accounting practices, real estate agencies, and trust and company service providers.
Cash-intensive wholesalers, supermarket chains, and remittance operators are squarely in scope. Logging companies and agricultural exporters handling large volumes of cash at the farm gate face particular scrutiny, with illegal logging identified by the Bank of Papua New Guinea as one of the country’s top five money laundering risks.
If your business handles significant cash, facilitates high-value transactions, or provides professional services that could be used to obscure the origins of funds, you are a reporting entity with statutory obligations.
Getting compliance-ready
If you are a business owner, board member or executive at a reporting entity, you should be able to answer “yes” to each of the following right now:
*Are you registered with FASU? Registration is mandatory. Failure to register carries fines of up to K50,000(US$11,534).
*Do you have a written ML/TF risk assessment? Not a generic template. A risk assessment specific to your business, your sector, and your customer base, reviewed and updated periodically.
*Is your AML/CTF programme board-approved? If your compliance officer cannot point to a signed, dated approval from management, you have a gap.
*Are you conducting proper customer due diligence? Identity verification for all customers and beneficial owners is statutory. Reckless failure attracts fines of K500,000(US$115,000). Intentional failure: K1 million(US$230,000) and up to five years imprisonment.
*Are you meeting your reporting obligations? Cash transactions over K20,000 (US$4,604) must be reported within 10 days. Suspicious matters must be reported immediately.
*Can you produce seven years of records on demand? All customer identification data, transaction records, and compliance documentation must be retained for a minimum of seven years.
The takeaway
Greylisting is not permanent, but its effects on your business are immediate.
International banks are already applying enhanced due diligence to PNG transactions: slower payments, higher costs on trade finance, and in some cases, outright refusal to process transfers. If your business depends on importing goods, paying overseas suppliers or receiving foreign investment, these delays hit your bottom line now.
At the same time, FASU has the power to conduct on-site inspections, impose fines of up to K1 million (US$230,000), and refer matters for criminal prosecution. The businesses that move first will retain their banking relationships and stay ahead of the regulator. Those that wait risk being caught from both directions: locked out by their bank and pursued by FASU….PACNEWS
John Burke is the Managing Director of Kyudo Growth, a management consulting firm based in Port Moresby and Brisbane, Australia. Kyudo specialises in AML/CTF compliance for PNG businesses.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Deep-sea wildernesses are more important than the promise of seafloor mining
Analysis by Andrew D. Thaler
SUVA, 15 APRIL 2026 (MONGABAY)—When I set sail on the MV NorSky in the summer of 2008 to probe the depths of Manus Basin off the coast of Papua New Guinea, I believed in the promise of deep-sea mining. As an early-career deep-sea ecologist, I was swayed by arguments in favor of this emerging industry. It offered a new way to obtain the metals needed for the renewable energy revolution, one allegedly free of the human rights and environmental abuses of terrestrial mining. The company was Nautilus Minerals, and the plan was to mine an active hydrothermal vent field called Solwara I.
What is a hydrothermal vent and why would anyone want to mine one? When seawater is drawn down into the earth and heated under enormous pressure, it rises through cracks in the crust, erupting from the seafloor in metal-rich plumes. Those metals are deposited on the walls of a growing chimney. Deep-sea miners call this structure a seafloor massive sulfide. They can be rich in gold and silver, as well as copper, zinc, lead and rare earth elements.
By most estimates, Solwara I is among the most valuable seafloor massive sulfides ever discovered. And it is not only rich in metals, it is rich with life.
The communities that grow around hydrothermal vents depend on the chemical energy of the vent plume. The geological process that deposits metals also supports ecosystems found nowhere else in the ocean. These vent fields are rare: the total area of all known hydrothermal vent fields is smaller than the island of Manhattan.
Understanding how these rare communities are connected across oceans is critical to understanding how mining could reshape the deep sea. Which is how I found myself aboard this ship, on an expedition to study the biodiversity and connectivity of hydrothermal vent communities at Solwara I.
Hydrothermal vents can be ephemeral. They turn over to a decadal rhythm, with old vents shutting down and new vents opening as the geological forces driving their formation fluctuate. For Nautilus, the dynamic nature of these vents presented an opportunity. Unusual for a hydrothermal vent field, Solwara I lies immediately beneath an active submerged volcano. The natural dynamics of the site present the possibility that the ecosystems it supports could be resilient to mining impacts. Solwara I already experiences natural disturbance. Perhaps it could endure a little unnatural disturbance, too?
It wasn’t a bad hypothesis, but it needed to be tested.
The first thing you see as you approach the towering edifices of Solwara I are squat lobsters, small crustaceans of the genus Munidopsis that look like hermit crabs pulled from their shells. Startled by the lights and noise of our remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the underwater robot we use to study the deep sea, they would launch themselves into the water column. Legs and claws spread wide, they’d drift back to the seafloor.
Only then do you see the vent plumes, great billowing black clouds. Surrounding these plumes are swarms of pale, eyeless shrimp of the genus Chorocaris. The ROV’s lights reflect off a glittering spot on their carapaces, a sensory organ like an eyespot that senses the black-body radiation (thermal electromagnetic radiation) emitted from the vent. These shrimp can “see” the heat of the hydrothermal plume, allowing them to swim close enough to feed, but not so close to boil.
You are guided to the mouth of the vent chimney by a bull’s-eye of biodiversity. Two fist-sized snails dominate the vents of Solwara I: a ghostly white snail with a paper-thin shell covered in long, stiff hairs from the genus Alviniconcha, and an abyss-black snail with a thick, heavy shell, from the genus Ifremeria. Alviniconcha prefers the warm waters immediately around the vent outflow, while Ifremeria likes its home a little cooler. Together, they create concentric rings of snails that encircle the vent.
Closer still, scale worms crawl through crevices. Mussels crowd around small cracks where cooler vent plumes emerge from the seafloor. Limpets cling to the shells of Ifremeria, but avoid the bristles of Alviniconcha. Crabs scuttle across mounds of snails. Octopuses and eelpout fish wind through rocky outcroppings. In the sediment, at the base of the chimney, a predatory snail from the genus Eosipho lies in wait for a hapless Alviniconcha or Ifremeria to fall from their perch at the top of the chimney.
Even around the periphery, and among the so-called inactive areas, where hydrothermal venting has slowed or stopped, strange communities form. Predatory glass sponges that look like lollipops hunt for copepods that drift through their domain. Cold-water corals sprout from rocky outcrops, brittle stars wrapped around them. An octopus broods her eggs. A chimera, a cartilaginous fish in the order Chimaeriformes, drifts slowly past the ROV.
What I learned studying the communities that thrive around Solwara I, as well as hydrothermal vents across the Western Pacific, is that, though these ecosystems are dynamic, they are also deeply interconnected. Those connections are fragile. The impacts from mining would be catastrophic to the communities at Solwara I, and the knock-on effects would threaten surrounding ecosystems.
There is a curious paradox in the deep sea: while most of the seafloor is characterized by exceptional biodiversity and extremely low biomass (there are lots of species, but few individuals of those species), hydrothermal vents tend towards the opposite. Biomass is high. Biodiversity is low.
Not so at Solwara I, which hosts both incredible biodiversity and tremendous biomass. Of all the vent ecosystems in the ocean, the hydrothermal vents of the Western Pacific, including Solwara I, are the most biodiverse.
Faith displaced
I entered this project in good faith, working with the mining company to help determine whether or not deep-sea mining at Solwara I could be conducted with minimal harm to the marine environment. I exited convinced that there is no viable path forward for hydrothermal vent mining, anywhere in the ocean. Solwara I may present the best-case scenario for mining a hydrothermal vent, but the best-case scenario is not good enough. Nautilus Minerals thought otherwise, and they applied for the world’s first commercial deep-sea mining permit.
Nautilus Minerals received a commercial permit to mine Solwara I from the government of Papua New Guinea in 2011. Despite clearing the last regulatory hurdle, they were never able to start mining. Unable to secure a ship and reeling from several blows to their business, the company went bankrupt in 2019, its assets auctioned off, its three massive mining robots rusting away in Port Moresby. That same year, in response to both growing pressure across the Pacific and increasing local resistance to the Solwara I project, Papua New Guinea instituted a 10-year moratorium on deep-sea mining within its waters.
Today, the deep ocean off the coasts of Alaska, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands face a renewed threat from deep-sea mining. Though an early pioneer, the United States has long sat on the sidelines of this developing industry.
Now, under directives from the Trump administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have begun the process of permitting mining across vast regions of the deep seafloor in both U.S. waters and the high seas, beyond any nation’s borders. While most presume that polymetallic nodules, metal-rich cobblestones scattered across the abyssal plain, are the prime target for this new push to mine the deep, the permitting process under consideration and the executive order that kick-started this process include not just nodules, but hydrothermal vents and metal-rich crusts on seamounts.
Just this month, BOEM released its recommendations for leasing areas of the seabed around the Mariana Trench, doubling the size of the initial proposed area and adding 33 million acres (more than 13 million hectares) of seafloor, on which the only potential significant mineral deposits are locked in hydrothermal vent sulfides.
Polymetallic nodule mining promises access to the abundant mineral resources of the abyssal plain, including cobalt, nickel and manganese, with a lighter touch than hydrothermal vent or seamount mining. But nodule mining is not without its own environmental risks.
The nodules are habitat, and removing them from the seafloor threatens the animals that depend on them. The sediment plumes produced by mining tools can spread throughout the water column, threatening seafloor ecosystems as well as commercially important fisheries. With significant research and technological advances, those potential impacts may yet be overcome, but nodule mining is not ready, yet.
There’s an argument that permitting is the only thing holding back deep-sea mining, that with the renewed push from the Trump administration to develop the industry through an expedited permitting process, deep-sea mining is inevitable.
Deep-sea mining is a wickedly challenging endeavor. At full scale, commercial deep-sea mining will be among the most logistically complex offshore operations ever undertaken, with robotic technologies as yet unproven. An expedited permit is no guarantee of success: even in the best-case scenario, with a commercial license in hand and mining tools waiting at the dock, Nautilus Minerals failed.
The deep sea does not offer guarantees, except for this: near limitless potential for discovery.
We have barely begun to explore the deepest places on our planet. Less than a tenth of a percent of the deep seafloor has ever been observed. As researchers, explorers and even miners increase our presence in the deep ocean, we will discover new animals, ecosystems and ecological processes. Some, like hydrothermal vent communities, will be so unlike anything seen before that we lack the necessary biological framework to predict their existence.
We’ve found octopuses brooding their offspring and skates laying their eggs in the warm waters of diffuse flow vents, for instance. At a long-inactive hydrothermal vent field, scientists discovered more than 30 new species of snail in communities that endure by living off traces of chemical energy that persist long after the vent stops. In the Indian Ocean, we found another surprising snail, this time with a shell made from iron. When brought to the surface and exposed to air, it begins to rust.
Hydrothermal vent mining has largely — but not entirely — fallen out of favor with the principal companies pushing for the rapid development of the deep-sea mining industry, but this potential for discovery is not limited to seafloor massive sulfides.
In a hadal trench, Chinese scientists uncovered a hitherto undiscovered ecosystem, the deepest animal habitat ever observed. In Pacific nodule fields, researchers delighted in the discovery of a whiplash squid that hides among the cobblestones, waiting to ambush its prey. On ferromanganese crusts on the Rio Grande Rise, Brazilian scientists found vibrant communities built atop cold-water coral reefs. On the Blake Plateau, at the site of the very first experimental deep-sea nodule mine from the early 1970s, U.S. researchers documented a coral reef larger than the state of Vermont. It is the largest cold-water coral reef in the world and it wasn’t discovered until half a century after it was almost dredged by a deep-sea miner. This near miss on the Blake Plateau highlights just how easy it is for enormous ecosystems to go unseen in the deep, even in areas being explored for deep-sea mining.
How will deep-sea mining operations respond to the discovery of something truly novel on the seafloor? Within the first two to three years of a full-scale commercial deep-sea mining operation, we will nearly double the amount of time humans have spent observing the deep seafloor. Within the 30-year operational life of a polymetallic nodule mine, the likelihood of discovery is guaranteed, and not just new species of nematodes or interesting snails, but whole ecosystems and ecological processes, with the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of life on Earth.
A discovery on the scale of hydrothermal vent communities or cold-water coral reefs would mandate an operational full stop, a complete overhaul of any environmental management plan, and years, if not decades, of focused study. When deep-sea mining companies are the only ones with the resources and capacity to monitor these sites, how do we safeguard this potential for discovery?
Discovery is inevitable. The tragedy before us now lies in rushing to exploit the deep sea before we understand what we could lose…..PACNEWS
Andrew D. Thaler is a deep-sea ecologist, conservation technologist and ocean educator. He is also a Public Voices Fellow on Technology in the Public Interest with The OpEd Project.
