K700mil for electricity projects

The National Business

MORE than K700 million in electricity investment has been confirmed for rest of the 2021 and next year with other projects to be announced, according to PNG Power Ltd.
PNG Power’s director of project delivery Eric Alom told a PNG Business Council forum this week that about 10 projects would start under the PNG electrification partnership (PEP).
“Since 2018 up to this year, we have never had any real movement on the delivery and coordination of the PEP programme,” he said.
“Now we are able to have a single central entity that is purely focused on project delivery and coordination.”
The projects in the pipeline include the:

  • EDEVU to Port Moresby transmission line and substation – a K128 million loan and grant from the Australian government which is at the procurement stages;
  • LEALEA to Kanudi transmission line – a K40 million loan and grant from the Australian government. A lot of businesses are going to be there and they need reliably power supply and network. It is at the design stage;
  • POWER sector development project – a K327 million counter-funded grant and loan from Australia and Asian Development Bank. It is at the early scope and finance agreements stage;
  • PROVINCIAL mini grids – a K40 million grant from Australia which provides a standalone grid with its own supply and distribution. It is at the procurement stage for feasibility study on Finschhafen, Maprik, Wewak, Daru and Kerema;
  • K6 MILLION grant from Australia on a Port Moresby grid capacitor bank;
  • PPL priority minor projects – a K25 million grant from Australia to replace generators and refurbishments in distribution and transmission lines;
  • ENERGY utility performance and reliability improvement project – a World Bank loan of K103 million to start next year;
  • PAPUA NEW GUINEA rural electrification K32 million grant from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Investment in Morobe, is a major grid densification and intensification programme centered in Markham and Lae, that will come in 2022;

  • A US aid grant of K2.5 million PPL business infrastructure support, and;
  • PEP major nationwide household connection programme. Funding is yet to be announced.