Basil suggests good mix for electricity project

Business

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
ENERGY Minister Sam Basil says there is great need for a mix of energy providers in order for the national government to provide electricity to 70 per cent of its population by 2030.
He said this when addressing students at the University of Technology in Lae yesterday.
“Energy is a great enabler of development,” Basil said.
“To provide electricity for all Papua New Guineans, we need to talk more about energy mix.”
He said in 2000, the United Nations endorsed the UN Millennium Goals, one of which called for concerted efforts worldwide to ensure there was electricity for all by 2050.
“PNG has incorporated this into the Vision 2050 and the PNG Sustainable Development Plan 2030,” Basil said.
“The PNGSDP targets powering and lighting up 70 per cent of households by 2030, while Vision 2050 targets 100 per cent use of renewables for electricity in PNG, in line with PNG commitments to global cross-cutting issues of climate change and rising sea levels.
“With extensive research by the Columbia University in New York, PNG has come up with the national electricity rollout plan (Nerop), which is ready for me to bring to Cabinet for endorsement soon.
“Nerop is the vehicle to drive electricity for all in the country,” he said.
“During the Apec Summit last year, thanks to the initiative of Prime Minister Peter O’Neil, US$1.7 billion (K5.7bil) was committed by the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand to fund national electrification in Papua New Guinea.”
Basil said the challenge was to generate an additional 300 megawatts and to develop standalone systems in geographically isolated parts of the country.
Unitech acting vice-chancellor Dr Ora Renagi said discussions on issues like that should be presented before scientists, professors, researchers and students.