Japan to consider railways

By GYNNIE KERO
THE country needs assistance from international agencies like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for energy and infrastructure developments, Department of National Planning and Monitoring acting secretary, Juliana Kubak says.
She said this at the signing of the project for Lae area power development master plan by PNG Power Ltd (PPL), Department of Petroleum and Energy and JICA yesterday.
The government has allocated K1.4 billion to provincial governments for provision of basic services, one of which is power delivery.
Kubak stressed that the country’s energy sector was still underdeveloped.
She said with the assistance from JICA, it was hoped that the PPL’s power capacity would be strengthened.
“The government is committed in infrastructures like road, transport, ports and the possibility of PNG embarking on railway stations.
“We would like to request you (JICA) if you are willing to participate in railway construction.
“We know and are aware you have good expertise so we would like to indicate to you that there are other areas we will require your support,” Kubak said.
JICA chief representative Shigeru Sugiyama said: “In Japan, we (JICA) have some expertise and experiences, especially in rapid speed train systems.
“We are really eager to promote this mode of the railway transport in this country.
“But it’s very new to me to know that there is such an intention – that the PNG government wants to explore the possibility to construct or install a station so we’ll talk if they are really serious about it.”