The National newspaper quoted Duma as saying: "We do not want to see licensees sitting on gas resources year after year. They need to tell us what their plans are.
"The Foreland fields are stranded gas fields, and on their own, they will be difficult to develop. The resources volumes are also at the low certification level hence the economic uncertainties for developing the gas in those fields."
He added that the government would hold talks with Foreland licensees to determine how best it could help to ensure that the fields are proven and developed.
Duma said the government would hold talks with Foreland licensees to determine how best it could help to ensure that the fields are proven and developed.
The Foreland region lies between the Highlands oil and gas fields and PNG's south coast.
A Highlands-South Coast or Highlands-Port Moresby gas pipeline to feed an LNG project or other gas commercialisation schemes could make development of Forelands fields viable.
