Oil Search MD awarded CBE

OIL Search managing director Peter Botten has been awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to commerce and the mining and petroleum industry in Papua New Guinea.
Congratulating Mr Botten on his award, Oil Search’s executive general manager for PNG and external affairs Gerea Aopi said Mr Botten had been involved in the PNG petroleum industry since 1992 and had been managing director of Oil Search since 1993.
“On behalf of the management and staff of Oil Search Limited, I congratulate Mr Botten on this award, in recognition of his services to the mining and petroleum industry, both as managing director of Oil Search Limited and as president of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum,’’ Mr Aopi said.
Mr Aopi said during that time, Oil Search had grown from a market capitalisation of less than A$300 million (K773 million) to where it is presently valued at almost A$7 billion (K18 billion) and is listed in the top 50 companies on the Australian Stock Exchange.
He said this growth had been largely driven by investment in the oil and gas industry in PNG, where the company now operates all producing oil and gas fields and is a major partner with ExxonMobil in the PNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
“I am deeply honoured to be recognised in this way,’’ Mr Botten said.
“This award reflects a commitment by all people at Oil Search to develop the oil and gas business in Papua New Guinea and contribute to the growth of the nation in a socially responsible way.’’