Hela, Dirio make deal for power project

THE Hela government yesterday became the first to sign a memorandum of understanding with Dirio gas and power for a new power project in the province.
Chief Secretary of Government Isaac Lupari, who is also the chairman of Dirio, said the agreement paved the way for Dirio (a company owned by the people) to facilitate the project going into business to generate 50 to 200 megawatts of power to service Hela and the Highlands region. “It will be one of the first entities for power production and it is owned by the people of Hela, Southern Highlands, Gulf and Central provinces,” Lupari said.
“It’s historical because we are now seeing a provincial government signing an agreement to go into business with its own brand, Papua New Guinean power company.
“For the first time these landowners and provincial governments have put their own money into establishing this company.”
It will be one of the first companies for power production owned by the people of those provinces in the country.
Dirio has started its operations.
The company has been fully established and has a board comprising Lupari and the governors of Hela and Gulf and a senior officer from Mineral Resource and Development Authority.