PNG Power puts up new tower

PNG Power Limited (PPL) is erecting a new transmission tower at Kasam Pass, Eastern Highlands, to replace one that brought down by a landslide in January.
The tower supplied power to Lae and Madang from the Ramu 1 powerhouse at Yonki.
The damage caused power instability in the Ramu Grid of the Highlands, Lae and Madang.
The tower was located near the source of Singsing Creek, about two kilometers from Okuk Highway, and difficult to access.
It took almost two months to build an access track and PPL chartered a helicopter to transport materials and equipment to the site.
The new tower will be 30 metres tall.
“We are working night and day to reconstruct the new tower,” said PPL lines design engineer Jonathan Ahokare.
It will take between one and two months to complete.
“Our customers are important and we are making sure this project is completed sooner in order to restore reliability to the system,” he said.