Deal signed for Hides to supply power to Hela

Business

A new public-private partnership with the goal of generating and distributing power in Hela has been formed.
ExxonMobil PNG, operator of the PNG LNG Project, and PNG Power will undertake a joint feasibility study next year to assess the viability to provide power to the province.
The two entities have signed a memorandum of understanding to start a study of costs and technical specifications required to safely transmit electricity generated at the Hides gas conditioning plant (HGCP) to the local community through PNG Power.
ExxonMobil PNG, as operator of PNG LNG, will look at delivering up to five megawatts of power from the HGCP to a grid owned and managed by PNG Power in Hela.
ExxonMobil PNG managing director Andrew Barry said PNG LNG was committed to driving economic growth and producing significant, lasting benefits.
PNG Power managing-director Carolyn Blacklock said: “The power generation project has the potential to positively impact the people of Hela province and continue to improve their standard of living through rural electrification.
“It complements the initiatives by Hela provincial leaders and others who are investing in electricity transmission and generation across the country.
“This partnership with ExxonMobil PNG signals the future is here.
“PNG Power has ambitious goals to switch from high-cost, dirty fuels to lower-cost, cleaner energy sources.
“We are delighted to join with ExxonMobil to undertake the feasibility study to assess the viability of
utilising local gas to power Hela province.
“This study is yet another example of the value that PNG LNG is delivering to the people of Papua New Guinea, and follows a recent announcement of a separate major initiative aimed at enhancing livelihoods through agricultural development in Hela province.”