NZ reaffirms support

NEW Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, pictured, says New Zealand is committed to the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership (PEP) to connect 70 per cent of the country’s population with electricity by 2030.
Peters said this during a press conference yesterday after holding a round table discussion about the PEP with project partners from PNG, US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
He said New Zealand was working with the PNG Government to improve governance and implement important reforms in the energy sector.
“That is why New Zealand, PNG, Australia, Japan and the US announced the PNG electrification partnership at Apec last year,” he said.
“The partnership is to help PNG connect 70 per cent of population with electricity by 2030 which is a major challenge.
“Its outcome, if successful which should be our objective, will be a major life changer for this country.
“None of us can reach on our own, but, together, we can pool our resources and make progress towards development in this sector.
“Since Apec last year, the partnership has managed and progressed committing substantial resources to PNG’s energy sector since that time.
“It also highlights things to come with five to six countries putting resources together to get projects done which costs us a whole lot less while we are doing a whole lot more.
“New Zealand is one of those countries leading one of those projects in the partnership for example 5,000 households in Enga co-funding that project with Australia.
“We are also supporting the Government to improve governance and implement important reforms in this sector and we are proud to be a key partner. We look forward to continue supporting this important partnership to help PNG achieve its electrification and development goals.”
Peters said New Zealand’s Pacific strategy had been to increase their involvement in the region and PNG was part of that as a regional and economic leader.
“Our relationship with PNG has been long standing and enduring built on shared interest and principles like good governance, democracy and regional prosperity,” he said,
“We are working with the new PNG Government to make sure that we invest in areas they prioritise like health agriculture and markets.”