Copper and gold mines are currently in production at Progera, Ok Tedi, Misima, and Lihir. New nickel, copper and gold projects have been identified and are awaiting a rise in commodity prices to begin development. A consortium led by Chevron is producing and exporting oil from the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. In 2001, it expects to begin the commercialization of the country's estimated 22.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves through the construction of a gas pipeline from Papua New Guinea to Queensland, Australia. Agriculture, Timber, and Fish Papua New Guinea also produces and exports valuable agricultural, timber, and fish products.
Cash crops ranked by value are coffee, oil, cocoa, copra, tea, rubber, and sugar.
The timber industry was not active in 1998, due to low world prices, but rebounded in 1999. Fish exports are confined primarily to shrimp. Fishing boats of other nations catch tuna in Papua New Guinea waters under license. In general, the Papua New Guinea economy is highly dependent on imports for manufactured goods. Small-scale industries produce beer, soap, concrete products, clothing, paper products, matches, ice cream, canned meat, fruit juices, furniture, plywood, and paint.