Rural Electrification Projects: Yonki Toe

The Yonki Toe of Dam Hydro Power Station Project is a green field-field development located on the left bank immediately downstream of the Yonki Dam in the Eastern Highlands Province. The power station will house two 9MW turbo-generators operating at a rated head of 35 metres. The water supply to the turbines will be via a steel penstock that is bolted to the outlet flange of the existing outlet pipeline through the dam. Water will be discharged from the plant via an open-channel tailrace to the Ramu River downstream of the power station. The power station will be electrically connected to the Ramu transmission system via a 132kV transmission line of approximately 1.7 km length that terminates in a spare bay off the 132kV bus at the Ramu 1 Switchyard.

The scope of the Works is the full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of all works needed to complete the entire project including all design, supply, installation, commissioning and testing of all components between the Interface Points needed to provide a complete, safe, operational and reliable power station in accordance with International Standards and PNG Power Requirements.

The power station when completed will supply 18MW of power to the Hidden Valley Gold Mine in the Morobe Province and surrounding rural areas. The project will also assist in achieving the government's plans to provide power to rural areas in the country. It will also result in increase revenue to PNG Power and the Government as a whole.

A Contract Agreement was signed between PNG Power and China National Electric Equipment Corporation of China in July 2008 which paves the way for the project to commence. The project will take approximately 24 months and will be completed by July 2010.