PPL lights up Ambunti villages

By NAOMI WASE
MORE than 5000 people from Ambunti station and Avatip village in East Sepik may finally have access to electricity – thanks to the New Zealand government.
The solar power project costs about K8 million under the New Zealand government aid. PNG Power Ltd will carry out the project.
A team of eight men from PPL and New Zealand is in Ambunti to carry out a 10-day feasibility study.
Ambunti-Drekikir district administrator Francis Kambaka said the project would benefit the Ambunti station and Avatip village.
The one at Ambunti station will supply electricity to more than 4000 people including public servants, schools, hospitals and villagers.
“The installation at Avatip village will supply electricity to more than 2000 people at Avatip and Yaumbak villages,” Kambaka said.
Ambunti local level government manager Paul Gaumior said Ambunti had two diesel generators.
“This electricity supply (generators) has been rundown due to the cost of fuel and transporting the fuel,” Gaumior said.
He said the two generators were still there but it was very costly to run them.
So they had to look for an alternative electricity source and this project would help them greatly.