PNG breaks ground on first-ever resource recovery centre in landmark partnership between Australia’s Incentive Fund and TWM Group
Supported through the long-running Incentive Fund, a new Resource Recovery Centre (the first of its kind in Papua New Guinea) will be built in Roku, on the outskirts of Port Moresby, under a landmark partnership between Australia and TWM Group.
Australian High Commissioner, Mr Ewen McDonald joined Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable John Rosso, Mr Michael Kumung, Deputy Secretary and Officer in Charge for the Department of National Planning and Monitoring; Mr Kori Chan, Managing Director of TWM Group; and Mr Michael Chan Jr, Chief Executive Officer of TWM Group, to break ground on the new Resource Recovery Centre.
“This Resource Recovery Centre is a 50/50 public-private partnership between the Incentive Fund and Total Waste Management. And we’re doing it in 2025, PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence. So, it’s a ‘50/50 for 50’ partnership!” says His Excellency, Mr. Ewen McDonald.
“This project is another great example of how the Incentive Fund is supporting the priorities of the Papua New Guinea government and communities”
The project, valued at PGK23.6 million (AUD10 million), will be delivered on a 50/50 cost-sharing basis between the Australian Government and TWM Group under the PNG-Australia Partnership. It marks the first time in the Incentive Fund’s 25-year history that the two governments have partnered directly with the private sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso said, “This is a clear demonstration of what is possible when the government, private sector and international partners come together in a genuine collaboration.”
The project reflects a long-term commitment by TWM Group to deliver the nation’s first fully integrated waste management facility. The addition of the Resource Recovery Centre will close the loop on its waste management system with a focus on prioritising the reuse, repurposing and recycling of waste, reserving safe disposal as a last resort.
“The construction of the Resource Recovery Centre is a bold statement about the type of country that we as Papua New Guineans want to enjoy and live in; and we here at TWM Group shall leave no stone unturned in our efforts to achieve the highest quality of life for our people by protecting our environment for our children and future generations,” says TWM Managing Director Kori Chan.
Once operational, the new facility will have the capacity to transform up to 40,000 tonnes of waste annually into economic opportunity and usable materials, including construction and demolition debris, plastics, and other recyclables. It is expected to divert 70 to 80 per cent of this waste from landfill and will produce over 7,000 tonnes of recycled materials each year for reuse in infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing.
More than 20 green jobs will be created through the project, with a focus on employing women, young people, and people with disabilities. The centre will also support green entrepreneurship and community participation through initiatives such as cash-for-scrap and local waste collection services.
This milestone project is part of Phase V of the Incentive Fund (2023–2031), a flagship PNG-Australia Partnership initiative that provides competitive grants for small-scale infrastructure valued between PGK3 million and PGK15 million.
The Incentive Fund is governed by a Board of five prominent Papua New Guinean directors, alongside Mr Koney Samuel, Secretary of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and Dr. Cate Rogers, Minister Counsellor for Economics, Health and Infrastructure of the Australian High Commission.
With a total investment of PGK406 million (AUD150 million), the current phase builds on more than two decades of partnership, during which over 80 projects have been delivered in every province of PNG.
This project represents a major step toward a cleaner, greener future for Papua New Guinea that’s also delivering jobs, innovation, and environmental sustainability in equal measure.
