Parlt clears way for Eda Ranu, Water PNG to merge

PARLIAMENT yesterday passed the National Water Supply and Sanitation (Amendment) Bill which will enable the merger of two state-owned entities Eda Ranu and Water PNG.
State Enterprises Minister Sasindran Muthuvel said the bill was to repeal the National Capital District Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1996 and amend the National Water Supply and Sanitation Act 2016 to allow the merger.
He said the Government’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene policy 2015 (WaSH policy) identified water as a strategic asset for PNG.
“Its effective management is an important part of the PNG’s long-term sustainable development,” Muthvel said.
He said water and sanitation in the country had been governed by two separate laws which allowed Eda Ranu to supply water and look after sewerage in NCD while Water PNG took care of the rest of the country.
Muthuvel said as part of the reform under the WaSH policy, the Government had brought together the combined strengths of the two entities into a single state-owned enterprise that would provide an efficient and quality service nationwide.
He said all Eda Ranu employees would become employees of Water PNG Ltd.