Heavy rain causes power blackout in NCD

 By SAMUEL RAITANO

PNG Power announced yesterday that the extreme rainfall last weekend caused power blackouts in the National Capital District and Central.

Flooding of Laloki River had forced PNG Power’s Rouna 2 hydro power station to shut down because of excess water inside the generating plant while Rouna 1, 3 and 4 power stations suffered from debris blockades in their water intake pipes, affecting power supply late on Tuesday.

Work was done to restore power supply and load shedding was carried out on two hourly basis for power generation to be fully restored which had resulted in outages experienced yesterday.

PNG Power has also condemned the harassing of its employees by residents along the Laloki River for the flooding that might have affected their homes and food gardens, advising those living along Kinakon to 17-Mile that it (PNG Power) was not responsible for the flooding as it was caused naturally by continuous downpour.

The poor and unruly behaviour of the residents along the river was not acceptable and unlawful.

Understanding and cooperation was needed from the public while PNG Power personnel continued to restore the power system.

Parts of NCD are to expect blackouts for three-hour periods any day as of today as emergency load shedding takes place.

Those with private gensets are told to keep them on standby to avoid inconveniences.

From 7am  to 10am, outage should be expected at parts of Gordon, Central Waigani, Erima, Badili, Kaugere, Sabama, 2-Mile, parts of Korobosea, Ela Beach, Touaguba, Gerehu stage 1 to 6,  Morata 1-2, Tokarara and June Valley.

From 10am to 1pm, outage should be expected at 6-Mile area, parts of Boroko, downtown, Hohola and along Waigani Drive.

From 1pm to 4pm these areas should expect outage; 5-Mile, East Boroko, Taurama barracks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, some parts of Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Murray barracks, Lawes Road, McGregor police barracks, 9-Mile, Bomana CIS, Police College and Goldie Barracks.