Hela people laud hydro proposal

PEOPLE of Hela have applauded the initiative taken by Southern Highlands governor Anderson Agiru to build a K300 million hydro power plant in partnership with Israel.
The proposed project is expected to harness the mighty Hewai Falls on Ta­gali River in Hela to generate electricity for Hela and Southern Highlands.
Speaking on behalf of the people of Pureni and Tani plains near the Hides gas field, local leader Leonard Tom­bena welcomed the governor’s initiative.
Tombena said the electricity currently produced by the Hides gas turbines would come to an end when the gas ran out.
But the hydro project would provide lasting electricity supply for the people.
Last week, a team of Israeli experts and engineers accompanied Agiru to visit the site of the water fall and conduct feasibility studies.
Agiru said the cost of the project was estimated at around K300 million.
However, Tombena said there was speculation that funding would come from the industrial development grants meant for the LNG beneficiaries. Tombena said if that was true, Agiru should allow the first batch of funds to be utilised by the LNG landowners so that future grants could be used as the provincial government pleased.