Light project is great news: Blacklock

PNG Power Ltd acting managing-director Carolyn Blacklock says a K3.6 billion project to light up PNG is the best thing to have happened in this country.
She said this yesterday after the US, Japan, Australia, NZ and PNG entered into an agreement which will see 70 per cent of the country lit using electricity by 2030.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the main Apec Leaders Summit at Apec Haus in Port Moresby.
“It’s monumental,” Blacklock told The National.
“This will forever change Papua New Guinea, this will forever change PNG Power.
“I think we finally got together today, the people that are invisible who don’t have light, suddenly have the light on them.
“We will never ever be the same again, nor six to seven million Papua New Guineans, who don’t have access to electricity. This agreement will deliver electricity by 2030.
“When you have the commitment of countries like Australia, the US, New Zealand, Japan and Papua New Guinea together, I think it’s no longer a dream. This has now got to be executed and it’s going to happen.”
Blacklock said the project would cost about US$100 million (K332 million) every year for 12 years.
“That’s K300 million every year for 12 years, which works out to K3.6 billion,” she said.
Blacklock could not give a breakup of how much each country would contribute towards the project.
She said PPL was now at the first stage of the electrification plan focusing on priority areas.
“We have to create a plan for at least the next few years and as 12-year plan after that,” Blacklock said.