Pruaitch warns of power scam

OPPOSITION Leader Patrick Pruaitch claims that political interference in PNG Power is threatening the government’s ambitions to greatly expand electricity supply at competitive rates to the wider community
Pruaitch said much of the ongoing troubles faced by PNG Power can be traced to political maneuvering connected with the Ramu 2 hydro project, the Yonki-to-Hagen transmission project and the proposed coal-fired project in Morobe. He claimed Government had approved the US$800 million (K2689.56mil) Ramu-2 project, but the PPL board and management have not endorsed Ramu-2, which could involve a scam many times worse than Kumul Consolidated’s Manumanu land deal.
“Building Ramu-2 at a cost of K3 billion will be a burden for the next generation, especially since there are many better alternatives for the provision of electricity at affordable prices.,” he said.