Hydropower plant gets modern facilities
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
The Rouna 2 hydro electricity plant outside Port Moresby is being refitted with a modern turbine and generating facilities to cater for the city’s electricity needs, PNG Power deputy chief executive officer Lawrence Solomon said.
He said the plant is being refitted with modern facilities under a K120 million project to replace the old facilities built in the 1960s.
“When completed, it will be fully automated and it can remotely be controlled from our main office in Port Moresby.
“This project is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will generate 75megawatts (MW) of electricity.
“At present the plant with its four stations Rouna 1, 2, 3, and 4 is generating 62 MW, which is not enough to meet our clients’ needs,” Mr Solomon said.
“ That’s why there are frequent blackouts experienced by our 35,000 clients in the city and those in Central province,” he said.
Mr Solomon made this known to the National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop at Rouna 2 outside Port Moresby.
Mr Parkop was taken 200m underground and was given a tour of the plant. Earlier he criticised the frequent blackouts that have been causing inconvenience among business houses and residences.
“The K120 million is from the K330 million syndicated loan that we had got last year from three Commercial banks and Nabawan Super Funds and it will take us seven years to repay the loan,” Mr Solomon said.
“The rest of the loan is being spent on similar projects on hydroplants throughout the country,” he said.
Mr Solomon said currently Rouna is not able to generate electricity supply for its clients and the Korean owned Hanjung turbo power supply based at Kanudi is supplementing for the short fall.
Hanjung has seven more years to go in its 15 year contract.
“We have plans to generate electricity from gas, which is cheaper than the current use of fuel, which is costing us US$110 (K320) per barrel per day.”
Mr Solomon said the gas project is being projected by the National Government to be in operation by 2011, which would greatly help the company’s operations.
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