National energy policy gets nod

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By HELEN TARAWA
THE National Executive Council has approved the National Energy Policy (2018-2028) which will see the delivery of reliable and affordable energy to the country, says Energy Minister Sam Basil, pictured.
He told the Petroleum and Energy summit in Port Moresby yesterday that the implementation of the policy required legislation for the establishment of the National Energy Authority.
He said the authority once established would be a one-stop institution responsible for policy coordination and development regulation of the energy industry.
The authority will implement National Energy Policy objectives to promote the establishment and maintenance of the safe and efficient system of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply.
It will also enforce proper standards of safety reliability and quality in the electricity supply industry.
It would also establish and enforce properly safety and technical standards for electricity installations including stands in relation to design of electrical installations to protect interests of electricity customers and to set tariffs which result in cheapest possible price of power for all Papua New Guineans. Basil said while the NEA bill process was underway, the energy wing of the Department of Petroleum and Energy would be upgraded to be the National Energy Office as a transitional arrangement.
“The task of the office is to establish the National Energy Authority through the NEA Bill and other complementing institutions as required by the energy policy.”