The Gerehu to NiuPower Gas Plant Transmission Line project is set to be completed tomorrow (Friday) afternoon and energised on Saturday for pre-commissionning tests to be carried out. Today (Thursday), PNG Power and its contractor, Voltran Engineering are completing final interconnection works to the Moitaka to Kanudi Transmission lines at Kasio Circle. Tomorrow (Friday), the team heads down to the NiuPower Gas Plant to carry out final hook-up onto the NiuPower yard, which will be the final task of the transmission lines construction.
PNG Power’s Rouna 3 Hydropower Station is back in full generation capacity after successfully restoring its unit 2 machine. In December, 2019, PNG Power’s Operations and Maintenance Mechanical Team from Rouna carried out its first successful load test and was given the approval to put back online. With Unit 2 now back in operation, the Rouna 3 Hydropower Station is generating to its full capacity of 10 Megawatts (MW). Unit 2 was out of operation since January 2019, due to a system failure and power surge, causing its stator windings to fail resulting in the shutting down of the whole unit.
PNG Power will not be conducting any planned load shedding during the festive season around the country. We will also endeavour to quickly restore power supply if there will be any unplanned outages caused by accidents or severe weather conditions. PNG Power loses money by generating power using diesel, so when our biggest customer does not pay on time, we cannot pay our own suppliers like Puma. We have now normalized our payment terms with Puma and fuel will be supplied during this festive season.
This morning Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape together with Oil Search Managing Director, Peter Botten and Kumul Petroleum Holdings Managing Director, Wapu Sonk officially cut the ribbon to mark the launch of the NiuPower Gas Planti just outside of Port Moresby. On hand to witness the occasion this morning at the NiuPower Gas Plant was Minister for Public Enterprise, Sasindran Muthuvel, National Planning Minister, Sam Basil, Commerce Minister, William Duma, PNG Power Acting CEO, Douglas Mageo, Kumul Consolidated Holdings Representative, Parkop Kurua and Hela Governor, Philip Undialu. NiuPower is generating 10 Megawatts (MW) currently into the Port Moresby Grid. Once PNG Power and it's contract completes the Gerehu to LNG site Transmission line by January 2020, NiuPower will be able to export its maximum 58 MW of power into the Port Moresby Grid.
PNG Power with the support of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and donors Australia and New Zealand, has officially launched the first ever trial of rooftop solar power in Papua New Guinea. The move marks a significant change in policy. Until now, it was illegal for Papua New Guinean businesses to install and generate power from roof top solar panels.
PNG Power is continuing to make inroads into its Least Cost Generation Plans and the successful completion of the Ru Creek mini Hydropower station is a testament to our commitment in driving this. Public Enterprise Minister, Sasindran Muthuvel, West New Britain Governor, Francis Galia Maneke and PNG Power Board Chairman, Peter Nupiri officialliy switched on the hydro power plant on Monday November 25. The hydropower supply comes online at a time when PNG Power needs it the most. Ru Creek is now back online feeding into the West New Britain Grid after 5 years.
Western Highlands & Jiwaka Province experienced a total power outage over four days on the weekend due to acts of vandalism which sabotaged power supply infrastructure. Last Friday at Wapip, in the Upper Nebilyer area, locals cut off stay wires which hold together transmission line 510 poles that run between the Dobel Substation in Mt Hagen and the Pauanda Hydropower Station on the border of Southern and Western Highlands.
PNG Power will continue its load shedding exercise across the country as it continues to conserve its fuel supplies whilst reducing fuel expenses. PNG Power was issued a ‘stop-supply’ notice by Puma Energy due to non-payment previous bills. Once payment has been resolved, the Port Moresby and Ramu Grid systems will revert to normal.
PNG Power is informing business houses and the general public that the current load shedding exercise across the country will continue as it continues to conserve its fuel supplies whilst reducing fuel expenses. It was incorrectly reported in the National Newspaper (October 24) that the Government had settled K50 million in outstanding bills and therefore the fuel payment issue had been resolved. This is not the case.
PNG Power will be conducting major load shedding and disconnection exercises throughout the country this week. The decision was made after a thorough analysis by the company showed major dues owed by various large customers. We are just like any other corporate organisation that requires a continuous cash flow to circulate to help us run our operations.
