Expect more power cuts

By PETER ESILA
PORT Moresby residents can expect more power cuts after PNG Power Limited yesterday started a load-shedding exercise, in response to landowners disrupting supply from the Edevu Hydropower Station.
A PNG Power statement said: “For those who will be affected, PNG Power will advise once there is an improvement in power generation. This (power supply disruption) is due to disgruntled landowners shutting down the power from the Edevu Hydropower Station at midday.”
PNG Power will release a load-shedding schedule for the capital city’s residents.
A team from the Independent Power Producer (IPP), the PNG Hydro Development Company, confirmed that the landowners yesterday shut down the plant. Attempts were made yesterday to address quickly what the landowners were aggrieved about. It is understood that it had to do with some money promised to them but yet to be paid.
The 54-megawatt Edevu hydro plant was connected to the Port Moresby grid last year, providing more than enough power for the capital city.
The K640 million plant came online last October with an initial 20MW test.
It coincided with PNG Power’s upgrading of grid infrastructure, feeders, and hydro projects such as Rouna One.
In another development yesterday, PNG Power said a technical fault in its Ramu system resulted in a power outage in Mt. Hagen in Western Highlands, Wabag in Enga, Kudjip in Jiwaka and Mendi/Ialibu in Southern Highlands.
“Our technical team are working to rectify the cause of the fault from Kudzip in Jiwaka to Dobel (Mt Hagen).
“Customers with standby generators and alternate power sources may use them during this time,” it stated.
Meanwhile, PNG Property Developers Association chairman Peter Aitsi said last week that because PNG Power could not provide reliable supply, many businesses had to rely on generators “resulting in higher costs due to increase in fuel use and running costs”.
“A number of businesses have experienced generator failure due to having to run them over extended periods, plus the irregular voltage coming through transmission lines,” he said.
“All of these issues are causing significant problems for businesses in PNG.”
He said business groups based investment decisions on factors such as reliable power, water and enabling public infrastructure as a precursor to property development.
“While we acknowledge that the problems with PNG Power may be a result of many years of mismanagement, poor execution and a lack of proper capital investment, and while we acknowledge the efforts that have been made to date, the reality is that the problems remain,” he said.