ExxonMobil Faces Bat Warning Over Papua LNG
Conservation group CELCOR cautions that the Papua New Guinea gas project threatens the endangered Bulmer's fruit bat and other species.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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CELCOR warned ExxonMobil that the Papua LNG project threatens the Bulmer's fruit bat and other species in Papua New Guinea's forests. ExxonMobil agreed in September to take over as operator of the project from TotalEnergies, and struck a deal in October to take control of it.
Why it matters
The project would tap gas fields in forested Papua New Guinea and pump 5.6 million tonnes of LNG annually, placing conservation concerns at the center of a major energy investment. Financing obstacles, with at least 32 banks and export credit agencies ruling out support, add pressure on the project's future.
The project would produce 5.6 million tonnes of LNG per year through a 320km pipeline to a coastal facility. Fewer than 200 adult Bulmer's fruit bats remain in the wild, and a final government decision is expected in December.
The players
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil is a major multinational oil and gas company that agreed to take over operation of the Papua LNG project.
CELCOR
CELCOR is a conservation organization that raised warnings about the project's threat to the Bulmer's fruit bat and other species.
The details
CELCOR's warning concerns a footprint that passes through densely forested landscapes, floodplains and mangrove-covered coastlines. The gas fields were discovered more than a decade ago, and the project relies on a 320km pipeline to carry extracted gas to a coastal processing facility.
Timeline
September: ExxonMobil agreed to take over as operator of Papua LNG.
October: ExxonMobil struck a deal to take control of the project.
November 2: CELCOR warned ExxonMobil about risks to the Bulmer's fruit bat.
December: A final government decision on the project is expected.
Roadmap
The Papua LNG dispute reflects a broader tension between large-scale gas development and biodiversity protection in tropical forest regions. Conservation findings like the IUCN assessment of the Bulmer's fruit bat are increasingly shaping the financing and permitting environment for such projects.
Energy consumers may eventually see the effect of the project's 5.6 million tonnes of annual LNG output on supply. Shifts in project financing and permitting can alter the timeline and cost of gas supply that households and businesses ultimately depend on.
The takeaway
Large energy projects increasingly face scrutiny over biodiversity impacts before they proceed. Investors and governments weigh conservation risks alongside financial returns when deciding whether to move forward.
What happens next
A final government decision on the Papua LNG project is expected in December.
Further reading
Explore more on Oil and Gas developments shaping global energy projects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Straits Times.
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