Govt called to restore power to Porgera

THE Central Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the Government to restore the supp[ly of electricity supply to the mining town.
Chamber president Nickson Pakea said the electricity supply to Porgera was cut off last month, forcing the closure of businesses and government offices.
Pakea said he was appealing to the government on behalf of the business community to intervene as it was the first time that a power outage had lasted for nearly a month.
“The Government or the provincial government must intervene and restore the electricity supply. They can’t always depend on the Porgera Joint Venture Ltd,” he said. “Porgera has contributed in one way or another to the government and the provincial government and we are now calling on them to address the issue.”
Pakea said the hospitals and police stations had closed because there was no power.
“Schools had to close early when the power outage started in late March. We don’t know why the power was cut but we appeal to the government to address the issue,” he said.