PNG Power partners with IFC to provide electricity to remove areas

Papua New Guinea has one of the most acute energy access challenges in the world with about seven million people lacking access to the country’s electric power grid, according to International Finance Corporation (IFC).
IFC vice-president for East Asia and Pacific Nena Stoiljkovic said IFC wanted to work with PNG Power Ltd (PPL) to improve services to the people of PNG and support the Government’s agenda to be 100 per cent renewable by 2050
PPL has partnered with IFC to provide low-cost renewable energy for remote areas.
The partnership will see greater use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and gas to generate power for remote and outer island centres that are not connected to the two main electricity grids in PNG.
The move follows the signing of an agreement in Port Moresby between Stoiljkovic and PPL’s director strategic planning and business development Bruce Corbet.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will identify ways to stimulate private investment and expertise to boost power generation. PNG Power’s acting managing director Carolyn Blacklock said using renewable sources of energy would decrease reliance on diesel fuel.
She said it would also save operational and environmental costs.
“PNG Power wants to leverage the global expertise of IFC,” Blacklock said.
“We know that other countries have had great success in utilising the private sector to increase the reliability of power generation and we want to tap into that global expertise.”
IFC and PNG Power are also working on a pilot rooftop solar PV programme for business in the capital Port Moresby, which should begin by the end of December.