Power firm denies cutting off Buka electricity

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday 30th January 2012

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
CHIEF executive officer for PNG Power Ltd (PPL) Tony Koiri has refuted a newspaper report that electricity was cut off at the Buka Hospital last week. 
He confirmed that there was load shedding but key establishments like the hospital were not affected because of the critical nature of their services.
The article by the Post Courier last Wednesday attributed statements to customers and hospital workers that the hospital was without electricity for an extended period of time.
“Reports of the Buka hospital being without electricity are wrong and at no time did we disconnect the hospital. It is standard practice that supply to key establishments is always supplied power because of the type of service they provide, like the hospital.
“PPL is aware that their standby generator which PPL helps to maintain was operational.
“So any suggestion that the hospital was without power for an extended period of time is totally false,” Koiri said last week.
The power station in Buka town was carrying out load shedding two weeks ago due to the unservicability of three of its six generators.
Koiri said PPL had the courtesy of notifying consumers over radio and written notices were posted around the town.
“PPL hopes the fact is presented correctly to right the misleading statements made in the press last week,” he said.