Hydro project in Sohe to resume

CONTRACTORS for the K43 million Divune hydro project in Sohe, Northern, have returned to the country and will soon recommence work, an official says.
PNG Power acting chief executive officer Douglas Mageo told The National that the project, which was expected to be commissioned in May, was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Most of these contractors are from China and they went home for the Chinese New Year and were stuck in China due to travel restrictions,” he said.
“Most of them arrived on Wednesday and will undergo a 14-day quarantine before they travel to the project site.”
The Divune project was funded through an Asian Development Bank loan under the town electrification investment programme.
Acting Northern administrator Trevor Magei said it was an important project that would benefit the province.
Magei said the provincial government would ensure all related landowner issues were resolved.
He said the hydro power station would produce three megawatts of electricity.
Magei said two separate units would generate 1.5 MW each and would have the capacity to supply the population and business demands of Northern.