PPL to roll out projects

By PETER WARI
PAPUA New Guinea’s main electricity provider is ready to partner provincial governments and districts to roll out rural electrification projects as part of the Government’s vision to power up the country.
PNG Power Ltd acting chief executive officer Obed Batia said this during the commissioning of a power project in Western Highlands on Friday.
People from seven local level government (LLG) wards in Upper Nebilyer are now enjoying electricity services, thanks to the Tambul-Nebilyer development authority (DDA).
Local MP Win Bakri Daki, who is chairman of the DDA, also pledged to seal a feeder road in the district to improve the link between the wards.
He said services in the Poika-Palgme communities such as schools, churches and businesses would all benefit from the K7 million project which was completed in time for Christmas.
Daki said the project would promote the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and agricultural activities in the local level government.
He said a lack of electricity and other basic services such as good roads and other Government services in health and education were forcing people to migrate to cities and towns.
Batia said the State-owned entity was presently facing its biggest challenge with increasing illegal connections, mostly in urban centres.
“We are ready to work closely with the DDAs, however, DDAs, LLG presidents, councillors and community leaders must carry out awareness to prevent people from making illegal connections,” he said. Batia said PNG Power was ready to help DDAs roll out rural electrification project but these communities needed to support the company’s work in preventing widespread illegal connections.