Call to set up office for authority

ENERGY and Rural Infrastructure Minister Saki Soloma has called on relevant State agencies to set up the office of the National Energy Authority as it is critical to the country’s development.
Soloma made the call on Friday, while acknowledging officers of the energy wing of the Department of Petroleum and Energy, who had worked to ensure the passage last week of the National Energy Authority (NEA) Bill and the amendments to the Electricity Industry Act.
“The very urgent matter now is the funding of the authority,” he said.
He acknowledged Prime Minister James Marape and the National Executive Council for approving funds for the authority.
“The staff of the energy wing and my office must now work closely with the Treasury and Finance departments to ensure adequate funding is allocated to get the NEA up and running before the end of the year,” he said.
“The authority must also focus on achieving the electricity access targets in the national electrification roll-out plan.
“It is the mechanism for bringing electricity services to all consumers including people living in rural and very remote areas.”
Soloma said the National Energy Authority needed to be able to promptly address the increasing need for power and energy across this country.