Diesel on standby only

DIESEL will no longer be used by PNG Power Ltd (PPL) to generate power in Port Moresby but it will only be used for standby purposes, PPL acting chief executive officer Douglas Magio says.
He made the announcement on Friday at the completion of Gerehu to NiuPower Gas Plant Transmission Line project, which was energised on Saturday for pre-commissioning tests to be carried out.
“It is a significant project for PPL as it marks the beginning of a complete fuel switch from heavy fuel oil, diesel and hydropower to gas and hydropower for the Port Moresby grid,” he said.
He said the NiuPower gas plant was officially commissioned in December, but had supplied Port Moresby with 10 MW since November, 2019.
“The station will now increase to 57 MW (beginning on the weekend) with the completion and energising of the Gerehu to NiuPower transmission line.
“PPL technical teams have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure all necessary electromechanical requirements are met for the final connection phase of the transmission lines between the Moitaka substation, the Kanudi substation and the NiuPower Gas Plant.”
Magio said the switch was a step in the right direction towards achieving low-cost generation under PPL’s reform agenda.
“We also want to become more responsible towards the environment by reducing the emission of heavy carbonated fuels.”
He said the new transmission line would enable the NiuPower power plant to fully dispatch its 58MW as well as the Dirio Power Plant when it came online.
“With both these power plants situated in the western corridor, the reliability of power supply in Port Moresby is significantly enhanced.”
Magio said PPL was doing its best to ensure that developments it undertook in the country would ease the financial stress of affording power.
“Over time, we want to provide cheaper tariffs.”