Japan agency commits to lighting up PNG

 By MALUM NALU

Japan is committed to creating a “brighter” Papua New Guinea through improved supply of electricity, says Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Takashi Toyama.

Toyama, who is new in the country after taking over from his predecessor Shigeru Sugiyama, said that yesterday during a meeting on the Ramu System Power Development Master Plan, and the Lae Area Distribution Network Improvement Plan.

“I am sincerely grateful to each member of the team for your collaborative efforts so that we shape a physically and economically brighter PNG through reliability of the line system as a whole,” he said.

“I’m sure that the master plans will assist in bringing energy to meet the increasing demand  in the commercial capital Lae City.

“The system will be able to provide much more stable and reliable power supply in Lae.”

Toyama said the plans would create a better financial perspective for Lae by reducing the frequency of blackouts in the city.

“This indicates that PPL will be able to upgrade the current facilities such as power generators and transmitters with minimal costs,” he said.

“This enables PPL to provide more stable and reliable power supply for users, as well as reinvest in facilities to ensure better quality and quantity of power in the area, and financial sustainability for PPL.”

He said customer satisfaction was also important.

“I’m confident that better access and reliability in the Lae area will greatly increase by 2030,” Toyama said.

“The implementation of the master plans will bring a brighter PNG as well as contribute to the medium-term development plan and Vision 2050.”