PPL told to consider other power sources

 A QUALIFIED engineer has suggested to PNG Power Ltd to look at alternative sources of power that are cheaper for consumers.

Thompson Benguma, a bio-fuel and waste-to-energy engineer based in Lae, said cheaper alternatives included bio-fuel and waste-to-energy power generation systems which could save the State a lot of money and ease the current power problem. 

He was responding to the recent 5.9% increase in tariff charged by PNG Power on consumers blamed on increase in operational costs.

Benguma said the hydro-power and thermal power plants (using fossil fuels) were expensive to operate.

“The systems of generating electricity in the country will continue to force PPL to ask the Independent Consumer Competition Commission for increase tariff,” Benguma said.

“No matter how much consumers complain about the power utility giant, electricity costs will continue to go up due to the system and methods currently used to generate electricity.”

Benguma said a hydro-power plant was costly to maintain. Fuel cost for a thermal power plant is equally expensive.

“It means that there is a need to look at other cost effective systems available to find a permanent solution,” he said.

Benguma said bio-fuel or vegetable oil such as the jatropha oil could replace diesel or petroleum products.

He said jatropha oil had fuel grade properties such as petroleum diesel and was a less expensive alternative.

Jatropha is a small tree-like shrub about five metres tall and grows in lowlands and highlands of PNG. 

Jatropha oil will produce “green electricity” and can be produced locally, he said.

Benguma said it could reduce costs by 50% for PPL.

“The other solution is to generate electricity by processing municipal solid waste and industrial commercial waste into synthesis gas and use it as fuel in gas engines or turbines to generate cheap electricity,” he said.

Benguma said Port Moresby and Lae were already generating more than 500,000 tons of waste annually.