Fuel cut plunges Manus into darkness

LAST week’s power outages in Manus were caused by PNG Power Ltd’s failure to provide a reliable power supply and it is an issue that the State owned company is working hard to fix, a statement said.
“We wish to advise all Government service providers, businesshouses and customers on Manus Island that we take full responsibility, and accept our failure of not providing reliable power supply, resulting in total power outage,” PPL said in a statement.
“This total power outage was due to shortage of fuel stocks on the island.”
The company said fuel was to have arrived in Manus late Friday for power to be restored at the weekend.
“We regret to have put Government services, businesshouses and the people of Manus province to a standstill,” the company said.
“We are disappointed at the poor service provided by our fuel supplier in Lae and the delayed shipment of fuel.”
The PPL management was to have met yesterday to find a solution to the problem “and to look into renewable power options to improve power reliability in the province going forward”.