NEA tightens up guidelines to benefit industry

THE National Energy Authority (NEA) has tightened up its guidelines to benefit the industry and boost investor confidence in the energy and electricity sector, an official says.
Rige Failing, the technical regulations division manager testing and licensing, said all electricians and contractors going through the NEA were being included in its database.
She said the NEA was working with the Labour department in ensuing that locals were given first priority in the local market before companies brought technical expertise from overseas.
“Companies have to check with NEA through our database to see if there are licensed Papua New Guineans that meet the criteria they need,” she said.
“If our electricians do not meet the criteria in terms of the knowledge, the expatriate coming in must train local electricians. That will be the condition in the work permit.
“When the work permit is due for renewal, the NEA will have to be provided the report from the sponsor (employer) to see that they have adhered to the condition. If not, that work permit will not be renewed.”
The NEA and Labour will be conducting an audit on all mines in PNG.
She explained that NEA-certified electricians could become certified solar technicians “of which there are none in PNG at the moment”.
The NEA is working with Customs, National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology, Independent Consumer and Competition Commission to issue permits for electrical and electronic products entering PNG.