Southern Highlands Rural Electrification Project
The Southern Highlands Province Rural Electrification Project was officially launched on April 27, 2007 by the Deputy Prime Minister, Don Polye, and Minister for State Enterprise, Arthur Somare, at Tari.

Both Mr Polye and Mr Somare appealed to the crowd of over 10,000 people who turned up to witness the launching to respect the project, and take ownership of it.

Mr Polye told the people that now that they have power supply, they could have lights in their homes, watch television and start up businesses that required the use of electricity.

Mr Somare told the crowd that the launching was a follow up to the signing of an Agreement between PNG Power and Hides Joint Venture on February 12, 2007 to develop a special purpose company, under the Companies Act to sell electricity to PNG Power.

The company will use the proceeds to off-set operating costs of diesel, naphtha or gas generators at the power station to be built. With these licences PNG Power Ltd has a greater responsibility to the government of Papua New Guinea and its people to make sure that power is available for all through out Papua New Guinea.

Mr Somare said PNG Power's contribution would be through the rural electrification allocation in 2007 budget.

 

PNG Power Ltd CEO Patrick Mara told the public that the project would progressively deliver electricity to them in the next 12 months using project management principles.

"I mention project management as these principles will deliver a known set of outcomes - not only on time but on budget. This means that everybody benefits including our stakeholders which is the Government, our company and our community leaders, including the Provincial and District Officials and the customers including the clans, villages and people of the Southern Highlands Province," Mr Mara said.

He told the crowd that the Southern Highlands Rural Electrification Project covered six substantial projects which would deliver mains power to the towns and villages of Tari, Nipa, Magarima, Koroba, Kopiago and Komo.

The Projects will link Mendi to Poram, Poram to Nipa, Poram to Miribi, Miribi to Kandep in the Enga Province, Tari to Magarima, Magarima to Nipa, Tari to Komo, Tari to Koroba, Koroba to Kopiago, Tari to Maria Market and to Pori, and Pori to Paka.

Mr Mara said another critical component of the project was the awareness sessions.

"As you are aware, electricity is valuable and a necessary commodity when developing basic infrastructure services and new businesses.

"It also becomes dangerous if not treated with respect. You cannot see electricity, you cannot smell it, but if touched incorrectly - electricity can be deadly. This important lesson is critical to the education of our children," Mr Mara said.

Mr Mara also told the crowd that PNG Power would be using the Minimum Supply Kit (MSK) to supply electricity to the rural population.

PPL Lights up Tari

The township of Tari was lit up on June 21, 2007 as part of the first stage of the Southern Highlands Province Rural Electrification Project.

The supply of electricity to Tari is part of the initial benefits under stage one of the project which includes educating villagers on the benefits and the dangers of electricity.

Electricity supply to Tari is through the diesel power station at Dauli Teachers College and the SHP RE project is meeting the cost.

This supply will continue until Tari is connected to the Ramu grid from Mendi under the RE project.

One of the major areas in the awareness campaign was to educate people not to demand compensation, as the project did not accommodate any budget for such demand.