PNG Power looking at K100m saving from gas

By Lemach Lavari
Electricity from the gas-generated power station in Port Moresby will save PNG Power Ltd about K100 million, says the company.
Acting managing director Carolyn Blacklock said the NiuPower project would replace existing high-cost diesel and heavy fuel oil power plants.
She said it would mean low cost power and cleaner energy.
“This project signals a change in power supply at a new price,” Blacklock said.
“It’s a very exciting time.”
NiuPower civil structure inspector Rodney Ipape said the construction work has reached the halfway mark.
“All the civil works have been completed,” he said.
“Work has progressed to the steel and concrete phase of the construction.”
Ipape said the engine hall, which would house the six 130-tonne generators, was 90 per cent complete, with one generator already installed.
The generators were brought in from Finland. Each engine will generate 9.74 megawatts of electricity for a total output of 58.8 megawatt of electricity.
“We will generate power at 11kilovolts and then step it up to 66kilovolts to supply it into the Port Moresby grid,” Ipape said.
“We will use gas from the PNG LNG plant site to generate power.”
He said the construction peak period was from this month to September, with more than 250 workers on site.