Big leak at PNG Power

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Flagon Bekker

By PETER ESILA
PNG Power Limited is losing about K25 million a month to electricity theft around the country, with some employees involved in the illegal activity, says managing director Flagon Bekker.
Bekker told a PNG Power partnership workshop in Port Moresby yesterday that the company needed to change.
“I want a win-win situation, but I won’t lie,” he said.
“PNG Power needs to change. And the people of PNG wants PNG Power to change. And I can’t let anyone stop me from making those changes that the people need.”
Bekker said most of the electricity theft was happening in Port Moresby by some staff members.
“There is only a skills set that can do it – it is our own people in the organisation,” he said.
Bekker said expressed disappointment that cases of theft reported to police were never prosecuted.
“We report them but nothing happens,” he said. “We have got a lot of people stealing power. Sometimes it is our own people helping (others to) connect and steal power. And we need the unions to help as well.”
He told the people involved: “We know who you are.”
PNG Power employees yesterday called for Bekker’s removal and for Prime Minister James Marape to order an investigation into the state-owned enterprise’s operation.
Bekker said the company’s interest must come first.
“There are things that we can talk about,” he said.
He urged the workers’ trade unions to work with the management in stopping the illegal activity.
“I believe (the union has) the control and ability to help us,” he said.
“We are looking at about K25 million a month nationally.
“If it is stopped, (there will be) higher revenue, more money coming in to pay salaries. And I really want the union to understand that they can do a lot more than what they are doing now to help the business be successful.
“You can’t just keep asking for money when the business is not doing well. We really need the union and us to work together to make PNG Power a success.”
Bekker said the reality was that “we are not paying all our bills. We are earning less than we spend”.
“I appeal to the unions to help us stop workers connecting illegal connection,” he said. “They have the control and ability to do that and I am wondering why they haven’t.”
He said technology would be a solution.

11 comments

  • Proper investigation must carry out on all the Asian shops.. They are the ones who did not pay the bills but doing business on illegal power connections.
    Thank you

  • Mr. Bekker is correct in saying PNG Power employees are involved in illegal connections as well some private electricians who happen to be former PNGP workers. If PNGP is not making money due to illegal connections, they have to request the public for information on who is involved and which properties are on illegal connection. Actually, its been an ongoing problem but PNGP never has been sitting on it!

  • Catch the thieves and persecute them.
    Second corrupt police officers and PNG power workers should be sacked.

  • Png Power workers doing illegal connection to feed settlers and get money direct into their pockets.
    Sack the lot.
    Concerned contractor

  • This is true Flagon Bekker, do what you can to remove currupt activities within PNG Power for the best interest of the people of PNG. Receiving less than expenditure is a concern. If there is no integrity within the organisation, then there won’t be a change.

  • It’s funny how we try to blame other people for our own problems. Bekker was only appointed as CEO in 2020 and now we’re staging a protest to get rid of him. What a shame, we’re so greedy for money that we’ve become so shortsighted in doing what is right by our people.

    PNG Power em company blo State and in extension, company blo yumi ol Papua New Guineans, kain pasin blo ol lain inside yet lo PPL lo halivim lo mekim illegal connections nau em karim kaikai time company no perform gut.

    Usim head, inap now lo protest nating nating and focus on getting the basics right first; we start by dealing with these illegal connections and thereafter the welfare of our PPL employees.

  • The PPL Management must not deviate from other management supported and intentional unethical company practices by purely blaming ‘illegal connections’ has the only leaking tap.
    The unethical company practices ranges from illegal connections to Management supported subcontract companies or services that use company resources and time in the pretext of doing PPL work.
    Disciplinary cases from 2017 – 2020 will confirm and amplify the trend of PPL unethical practices and double standards. My Employment Termination is a classic example of the exposure and concealment of double standards that have been defended well the Management.
    The Managing Director should not be shifting away and out of the offices to blame the workforce, especially, the skilled tradesmen [on the soft floor] who work tirelessly to earn a Honest living.

  • Most of people in the settlement and urban centre are using free power almost every day.

  • This is a fact. I live within the motu/koitabu village and and know of many houses using free power. Why can’t the authorities do a house to house inspection and remove illegal connections.

  • And that’s definitely true of what you are saying. There are too many illegal power connection especially in the settlements situated within the city vicinity. It’s done by PNG power’s employees. We experiencing frequent blackouts because of this issue.

  • You know how to remove the corruption is to restructure and remove all employees and than re employ again

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