Signining of contracts paves way for rural electrification in district

By BOURA GORU-KILA
MORE than 10,000 households in six impacted villages in the Yangoru-Saussia district of East Sepik will soon have access to electricity after the signing of two contracts in Port Moresby yesterday.
The contracts were signed by PNG Power Ltd (PPL) and Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru for the Holiwa to Handra and Yaremboim to Warabung projects.
Local contactors Yonnie Ltd and Pacific Energy Support Ltd were awarded the work.
PPL acting chief executive officer Douglas Mageo said Yonnie Ltd would work on the first project, a 10-month project from Holiwa to Handra.
He said it was about 6km of 22KV distribution line.
“Pacific Energy Support Ltd will work on the second project which is an eight-month project from Yaremboim to Warabung and is about 4km of 22KV and 2km of no voltage line,” Maru said.
He said the completion of the K2.5million projects would result in electricity reaching Numindogum, Nungori two and Handra villages in the Numbo local Level government and Numoruon, Holik, Yaremboim and Nindipole villages in West Yangoru.
It includes Numbo and Wingei high schools.
Maru thanked the board and management of PPL for finally getting the project contracts signed so work could start.
“Our biggest disappointment has been PPL taking over 12 months to procure the projects after funds were provided,” he said.
“We appeal to PPL to speed up the construction phase of the projects because we need electricity for both the new Numbo High School and Wingei High School.
“The first classes of the new schools will commence on the last week of January 2020.”