Power cut causes DPE office to shut

National, Normal

THE Petroleum and Energy Department offices in Konedobu are without electricity and telephone services.
The offices were deserted on Monday afternoon when The National visited.
All the doors were locked.
Some landowners who turned up to check on the progress on the licence-based development forum preparations had to go away because there was no one there to deal with them.
The Konedobu offices housed the Petroleum Division of the department, which is responsible for the LNG project and licence application processes.
The power was cut off by PNG Power last Thursday, a senior officer with the department said.
“It’s frustrating. I’m working from my laptop in my car.
“We’ve been without phone and internet connection for two months now.
“This is the office that deals with the LNG project and other petroleum projects in the country,” the officer said.
“Workers are having a holiday now and no one is at work.
“The minister (William Duma) has been working hard to get projects off the ground but the management here is providing little support.
“We are in a mess,” the officer said.
Secretary Rendel Rimua’s office was located at these premises.
His office was locked yesterday afternoon.
A finance official within the department when contacted yesterday confirmed that they owed money to PNG Power and Telikom Ltd.
“It’s about K100,000 but I can’t tell you exactly the amount right now,” the officer said.