STO Well positioned, page-317

Due to PNG politics and partners there are only 3-4 possible "bidders" and they woudl most likley do a subdeal to other existing partners to get any buyout ove rteh line. I can't see a outright bidding war as I understand there is possiblya last bid option in the agreements and all partners have to be approved by others etc etc. Bringing an outsider who is a oil major in would IMO be hard. Bringing in a state owned fund as a shareholder is a possibility . STO should always get a premium for PNG and Alaska as it is operator and that has benefits a major would want.

Just thoughts- I don't think it is simple but as you say at current discount and out of reach of Australian rules it is a extremely important asset to STO holders and to any other bidder. Strategically Oila nd Gas with local asia clients , singapore, Korea Japan etc etc it is political and energy security and none of the users would want a china or middle east investor in there iMO.

Frankly USA and Aust should have some millitary facility in PNG to help ecconomy and ward off Chinese doing same for $. Pacific is ripe and being picked by China as they are desperate for $ . Massive resources PNG has onshore and offshore that Asia wants and with energyplants planned they can be processed and value added in PNG as well.