Firm’s study to help boost power system

 By Eric Balaria

A JAPANESE company will soon be working with PNG Power Ltd to improve its power networking system in the country.

NEWJEC, an integrated engineering consulting firm engaged by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will embark on plans aimed to address issues relating to power shortages and high power losses. 

The firm will conduct a study on the Ramu power system and the development of a Lae distribution network improvement plan.

The two project plans would be carried out in a 14-year period, starting next year. 

Speaking at a workshop in Port Moresby yesterday, PNG Power Ltd director (strategic planning and business development) Chris Bais said the outcomes would provide vital information to PNG Power to improve and expand their systems in other centres.

“We (PNG Power) are very excited with these two projects, especially with JICA coming onboard to assist us in funding the study,” Bais said. 

“For us it’s going to be a very important study as the Ramu system is our second biggest system, however, with all the developments taking place in that part of the country, the Ramu system project is going to surpass the Port Moresby system in the near future.

“The outcomes of the project will provide us the data we would need for further improvement purposes.”

JICA PNG chief representative Shigeru Sugiyama said the project is a joint effort by PNG Power, the Department of Petroleum and Energy and JICA.

He said the programmes aimed to identify the most required and cost effective power distribution plans that would be used to implement a sustainable power supply system in the country.