Call for cheap power

By CLARISSA MOI
PRIME Minister James Marape has urged PNG Power Ltd to start providing cheap power to consumers.
He said Niu Power Ltd and Dirio Gas and Power Company would supply about 103 megawatts of power using natural gas from the PNG LNG project to the Port Moresby grid.
Dirio is offering half the cost of power at 37t per kilovolt.
“PNG Power (should) not come up with excuses (after being supplied) cheap power,” Marape said.
“Pass on this cheap power to customers. Get up and get going. Find partners.”
He said PNG Power had more than 103MW of power supplied to Port Moresby.
“I want all our manufacturing plants in Port Moresby to have access to cheap power,” he said.
“PNG Power (should) give them cheaper power at night.
“Coca Cola start producing at night time.
“SP Brewery start producing at night time with half the cost of tariff.”
Marape urged PNG Power to ensure that the Port Moresby grid was ticked off.
“Seventy per cent of the country can be powered because you have 70 per cent population from the highlands grid that runs from Lae, Madang, Wau-Bulolo into Porgera and Hides and you got the Port Moresby grid that we want to connect to Kerema and go all the way to Alotau,” he said.
“This will give opportune time for economy to spin, drive the industry in agriculture, livestock, and tourism.”