Province to handle power issue

By ROSELYN ELLISON
EAST New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga says the provincial government will take ownership of the power service in the province.
He said PNG Power Ltd, a government entity, could remain as regulator.
ENB has been experiencing constant power problems which has frustrated the local government, businesses and people since last month.
Konga announced a partnership between the ENB government and major developer in the province, Tzen Niugini. “Under the partnership, the government will create an environment for Tzen Niugini to generate and supply electricity to help generate more power to meet growing demand by customers, given the increase in population and households.”
Konga said Tzen Niugini was a long-time development partner of the ENB government and proved it with its continued support of grading and maintenance of more than 1,000km of roads in the rural areas of Baining in Gazelle district.
“One potential aspect of power generation is a bio-mass power production system used by Tzen Niugini at its Vunapalading Palm Oil Mill in the Inland Baining local level government (LLG) of Gazelle, which currently has the capacity of 1-2 megawatts and is capable of expanding to produce up to 5mw,” Konga said.
He said Warangoi Hydro after being rehabilitated would be capable of generating up to 8mw, which would supplement 3mw each generated from geothermal station at Ulagunan, Coconut Product Ltd (CPL) and Kerevat.