More electricity needed to power up industries, say Basil

PAPUA New Guinea needs another 900 megawatts of electricity, says Energy Minister Sam Basil.
He said this when addressing students and lecturers at the University of Technology in Lae yesterday.
Basil said PNG used about 500MW of electricity from the two main grids: Port Moresby and Ramu.
This does not include standalone systems that power mining sites and townships with another 100MW.
“Another 300MW more is needed for household electrification, with another 600MW required for the industries, including emerging major projects like Wafi-Golpu project, Frieda River and Yandera,” Basil said.
“Energy is what powers industrialisation.
“Papua New Guinea has the potential resource base in minerals, oil, gas, agriculture, fishery, forestry and tourism to leapfrog into an industrialised modern state if it harnesses its vast natural resources.
“It is my responsibility to ensure PNG moves along the dual focus of electricity for all and electricity for industries.
“To do that, I must harness all forms of energy, including energy mixes for generation of electricity, transmission, distribution and retail.
“Access, affordable, reliability and sufficiency is crucial, both in electricity for all and equally-important electricity for industries.”