Govt depts face power cut

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

PNG Power acting chief executive officer John Yanis has issued a warning to disconnect electricity to government departments behind in bill payments.

The squeeze is meant for departments owing over K1 million in outstanding payments this week. 

“The government departments who are our biggest customers are our worst customers. They owe us a lot of money,” Yanis said. 

“They are not paying up their bills. What will I do to meet the expectation of the government to roll out the rural electrification project throughout the country? 

“So it is a give and take. If you pay me, then I will use that money to serve you. 

“There will be disconnection notices going out and then we will disconnect if they don’t pay up. 

“But we are now talking to the heads of departments to pay us because we need that money to conduct our operation.” 

Yanis’ warning came when he received a K100,000 cheque from Yangoru-Saussia MP and Trade  and Industry Minister Richard Maru. 

This cheque was for the construction of infrastructure to connect electricity from Warabung to West Yangoru High School in East Sepik. 

“I understand the Yangoru-Saussia people’s frustration on us for not getting the timely service that they required,” Yanis said.  

“But the situation I am in, I am trying my best to ensure that things are happening. From where I am sitting, I am trying to manage a company that is trying to meet the expectations of the Government.” 

He said that PNG Power was not making any money in small centres like Vanimo, Wewak, Kavieng and Lorengau.

 “We are making money in Port Moresby and from the Ramu grit. The cost is killing us. We are paying K300m per year for fuel,” he said. 

“During the State of Emergency operations last year, I talked to the then State Enterprise Minister Ben Micah to give me K300 million and you will see improvements. 

“As I’m speaking, I don’t have any money to stretch. 

“So that’s the problem I’m in. I am trying to juggle with what I can do and what I can maintain. 

“On the other hand, I don’t have good customers. We are giving supply to you but you are not paying us. So how can I run a business like this?” 

Yanis said that they were having problems with manpower.  

“Our training was not in place for the last 15 years,” he said. “The management at that time did not turn over the staff that we required. 

“I came in and actually started doing that now. 

“So now we are training a total of 150 new graduates, technicians and linesmen. 

“We don’t have electrical inspectors. We have five or so to go throughout the country. These problems have never been addressed before. So now we are training them to send them out to be stationed in all centres.

“In the next 12 months we will see some improvement in our service delivery.”