Power project to increase electricity by 2030

National

The K375 million power project launched yesterday in Port Moresby is in line with the Government’s plan to reach the 70 per cent power supply coverage in 2030, Kumul Petroleum Holding Ltd managing director Wapu Sonk says.
Sonk said the new project was a replacement of the 25 megawatt plant launched by PNG LNG.
He said the 25mw would come off and with the 57.78mw, an additional 25mw would enter the National Capital District grid system.
“We will then be looking at the demand because people will take their generator sets off and will feel comfortable not to use standbys and that’s the time that the demand load comes on.
“We can build the next one so we can have 100mw just on gas which becomes the base load and the hydro will be supplementary to cater for Port Moresby for another 30 to 40 years.
“Companies like us and Oil Search have access to gas.
“We are playing our part to use that resource to meet the government vision.
“Some areas have geothermal, some have hydro and others solar.
“So put all that together, we can meet our vision 2030 or 2050.
“But it has to be coordinated.
“We believe we are heading towards that,” Sonk said.
Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister William Duma said this project would mean fewer power blackouts.
He said with the ever-increasing Port Moresby population, this project was an overdue and much-needed extra source of power for the capital city.
“Everything that we do is all in line with the Government’s vision to improve Papua New Guinea’s standard of living, even the Ramu 2 project in Eastern Highlands,” Duma said.
“It’s all designed to meet that objective.”