Electrification project to light up district communities

By ROSELYN ELLISON
FOUR communities in the Bitapaka local level government (LLG) in Kokopo, East New Britain (ENB), will now have electricity for the first time.
The Tapo, Rainau, Makurapau and Malakuna number five communities launched the Kokopo rural electrification roll out programme over the weekend at the Tapo Catholic church ground with their leaders.
Kokopo MP Emil Tammur said the project was funded under the district services improvement programme (DSIP) which receives an annual K10 million allocation.
He said K5.2 million had been committed to the project with the first phase having started last week which included clearing sites and erecting power poles by contractor Pawacomtronics Investment Ltd.
Tammur, who is also Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said K1 million had been released to the contractor to cover the first phase which would start from Tapo parish to Rainau junction.
The second phase would be from the Rainau junction to Malakuna No.5.
He said the project would cover 10km from Tapo parish to Malakuna No.5 and would be over two years and was a partnership between Kokopo, PNG Power and Pawacomtronics Investment.
Tammur acknowledged the district’s leaders and public servants as well as the people for their patience, understanding and effort to make this important project possible.
“Talks about this project began 20 to 30 years ago by our elders and now we are here to launch the project that everyone has been waiting for,” Tammur said.