Power outage distrupts businesses

By ELLEN TIAMU
RECENT power outages in Lae and other centers have disrupted industries and businesses in Lae.
Businesses say although they appreciate PNG Power’s notice alerting them to the impending power outages, the unexpected power failures had damaged sensitive electrical equipment the companies had to invest heavily on as protective devices.
The massive power spikes however, got through the protective systems and damage often took weeks or months to fix because parts had to be ordered from overseas.
Some industries and business houses in Lae are also concerned about the standby power generating capacity in Lae saying they have been told for years that the power company would be raising the capacity of thermal generators in the city to handle the city’s power requirements at peak times.
PNG Power recently informed businesses that generation from the Milford and Taraka Power stations was only 18 megawatts which was just over half the city’s power need.
They have recently been told that one generator is down which means less power to go around.
The national power company last year announced that it would construct a 40 megawatt power station at Malahang. But businesses and residential consumers are wondering why this project has been stalled.
Businesses say Lae has been hailed as a growing industrial and commercial city and PNG Power must plan to increase the power capacity otherwise it would become difficult for Lae businesses to compete with imported products or with other centers.
They are urging PNG Power to live up to its promises and provide efficient, reliable power. 
Many companies in the city have invested in standby generation due to the frequent power outages.
No comment could be obtained from PNG Power yesterday.