Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) has officially signed a partnership with the National Department of Education (NDoE) today 31ST July 2025 to support Papua New Guinea’s brightest Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students through overseas scholarships starting in 2025. Under this partnership, starting August 2025, KPHL will sponsor the top 30 STEM students annually from national schools of excellence—representing the top 1%—to pursue undergraduate studies in world-renowned universities abroad. The total investment is equivalent to approximately USD 50 million, that is K150 million Kina. KPHL Managing Director Wapu Sonk described the initiative as a long-term investment in the nation’s human capital. “This is how we transfer the wealth generated from our petroleum and energy resources into tangible human development,” Sonk said. “We believe education is the bridge between potential and progress.” Currently, Papua New Guinea has 280 STEM students studying overseas, including 107 in the United States, 50 in China, 30 in India, and 5 in Fiji. According to Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra, 2026 will see the inclusion of new destinations across Melanesia, particularly for petroleum chemical and medical studies. Dr. Kombra praised the partnership, calling it a milestone in public-private collaboration. “Through KPHL’s strategic support, we are creating a pathway to global competitiveness and excellence,” he said. The Memorandum of Understanding was officially signed in Port Moresby today, with both parties calling on other corporate entities to join in supporting PNG’s future generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.