Former power woman blasts PPL

THE continuous power blackouts experienced in the country, especially in Lae was accredited to negligence and incompetence and old equipment.
“Electricity, like water, is a basic need and for power users to be hit heavily with continuous power blackouts is unacceptable and it also goes to show the professional attention given to this important source of energy,” an electrical engineer has pointed out.
Former PPL chief executive officer Finkewe Zurenuoc said the Ramu hydro power station at Yonki, which was constructed and commissioned in 1973, had reduced its production capacity through “fair wear and tear processes and no regular maintenance”.
“I do not think proper and regular maintenance were done on the five generating units at Yonki since they were installed,” she said .
Zurenuoc, who is also the first national female power system and control engineer, said the original five generating units installed at Yonki were designed to produce 75 mega watts power output but were currently delivering about 60% capacity.