Duma: PPL to have final say

By HELEN TARAWA
THE PNG Power Limited board and management have the final say in any proposed power projects, Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister William Duma says.
Duma was responding to questions raised over the proposed new power project for Lae by Mayur Resources which PNG Power was assessing.
“I am aware of the project because I was briefed. But at the end of the day, it is PPL who will assess all the projects and decide whether the proposals can reach the next stage,” he said.
“I am waiting for PNG Power to advise me on this project. The board of PPL and management must make that assessment and advise me. They have not advised me yet.”
The Mayur Resources Enviro Energy Park project to be built in Lae has received support from the Morobe and Gulf provincial governments. It is also endorsed by the Conservation and Environment Protection Agency.
Mayur had agreed to a K125 million funding package for Morobe over 25 years. It is awaiting the green light from PNG Power.
Mayur Resources had first engaged in the project proposal in March 2016 and had been waiting since.
PNG Power Ltd acting managing director Carolyn Blacklock recently said the company did not have any power purchase agreements to use coal.
She said the power projects must be carried out based on PNG Power’s plan which determined the power generation and supply and the time and location.
Duma confirmed that there was support from the Morobe government, and political leaders for this project.
“That is the matter for the board and management of PPL,” he said.
“They assess the feasibility of any proposals and they make the decision.
“About PNG Power stopping the project from proceeding, I’m not privy to what is happening there.
“But I’m waiting for PPL to advise me. It’s in our interest to assess the entire proposal to see whether they are ok for us to go ahead and it’s that assessment stage.”