Dentons Rodyk successfully defended PNG Sustainability Development Program (PNGSDP) in a Singapore High Court matter against the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (“the State”). With assets of approximately US$1.4 billion, this is one of the highest value matters to have been heard in the Singapore High Court. 

PNGSDP is a company incorporated in Singapore in 2001, as part of the exit of global mining giant BHP from Papua New Guinea (PNG), with the purpose of promoting sustainable development in PNG, and in particular in the Western Province, where BHP’s Ok Tedi Mine is located. The dispute centred around the State’s attempts to take control of PNGSDP, from its independent Board. Moving forward, PNGSDP is now free to carry out its purposes under the control of its independent Board in accordance with the contractual framework that had been agreed in 2001. 

The State has filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal. 

PNGSDP was successfully defended by Dentons Rodyk, led by Philip Jeyaretnam S.C. and his team, with Mark Seah as second chair. 

About Dentons Rodyk

Dentons Rodyk is one of Singapore's Big Five law firms, with a team of around 200 lawyers offering clients a full suite of legal services necessary to do business locally and globally. With over 160 years of establishment, consistently ranked highly in leading publications, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality advice to our clients while maintaining strong working relationships with key public sector agencies and leading organisations in the private sector. Our combination with global law firm Dentons, makes us part of the world’s largest law firm with 20,000 professionals in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries.

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