Outage a serious issue: Bird

THERE is a “very serious” need to reform PNG Power Ltd so that it has a “private sector approach” in running the business, says East Sepik Governor Allan Bird.
He was responding to a PNG Power statement on Monday advising people in East Sepik that it would be cutting back power supply in the province.
According to the notice, PNG Power will be conducting daily shutdown of power to the province to conserve fuel. It blames this on the disruption to fuel supply from its supplier.
It started yesterday (Nov 12) from 8am to 6pm daily.
It will continue for an indefinite period.
Bird expressed frustration over the notice. It is a very serious concern,” Bird told The National yesterday.
“While the big businesses have their own power generation capacity, the small businesses will be badly affected.
“At the moment PPL is not serving its intended purpose and it has been a milking cow for numerous years. This has to stop.
“We need a better arrangement for power generation and distribution in the future.”
Sepik Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Alois Mateos said the province had constantly been experiencing power disruptions. “Many homes and small businesses cannot afford to run their own generators. The water supply will (also) be affected as the water supply is connected with PNG Power Ltd. No power, no water,” Mateos said.
“Someone has to intervene and pay the bills (to the fuel supplier) urgently.
“Schools will be closed and the hospital will run out of water.
“Freezer goods in major supermarkets will become stale and unhealthy, although they have standby generators. (It is) a major crisis for Wewak and East Sepik.”
Meanwhile, PNG Power acting chief executive Douglas Mageo told The National that they were urging the Finance (Department) to pay part of the K50 million “they owe us so that we can settle suppliers”. Attempts to get comments from the Finance Department were unsuccessful.