NiuPower helping address power generation issues: Official

THE commissioning of independent power producer NiuPower last year is helping address some of PNG Power Ltd’s power generation issues, an official says.
PNG Power’s acting chief executive officer Douglas Mageo told The National that NiuPower was able to initially supply 36 megawatts of electricity while awaiting a new line. The new line was completed in February allowing PNG Power to access full power from NiuPower.
NiuPower generates 11kv (kilovolts) which is increased to 66kv via a transformer at a substation, then transmitted to the Moitaka substation then to substations at Waigani, Boroko, Kone and Bomana. Mageo said the transmission line connecting NiuPower to Moitaka was completed in February.
He said the units at Moitaka were removed while PNG Power’s own generation plant had been reserved for standby purposes only.
Mageo said Moitaka staff were PNG Power employees who would be relocated to other stations.
He said generation was only part of the network.
“We have transmission that covers a large area, and distribution lines that bring power to the customer.
“We have a transmission line that connects Lae, Madang, Wau, Bulolo, Yonki Kainantu, Goroka, Banz, Hagen, Wabag, Mendi.
“These lines transverse hundreds of kilometres, cross rivers, climb ridges and are subject to lightning strikes, vandalism, earthquakes, landslides, flooding; all potential causes of problem.
“We also have (power supply disrupted) by careless drivers, and wooden poles exposed to fire when people burn grass.”