PNG Power and Puma Energy have come to a mutual understanding that will ensure power supply is restored in most of its centres who rely on diesel fuel to run its power stations. Puma reached out to the PNG Power management to resolve the issue despite the large amount of outstanding payments due from PPL. Puma has agreed on an exceptional basis to release further fuel supply to PNG Power starting today and for the rest of the week.
The Vanimo Power Station is intact and will resume supply of electricity to consumers and the general public in Vanimo and surrounding villages this afternoon. PNG Power Chief Executive Officer, Obed Batia denied a report by NBC News on its Facebook page claiming that the Vanimo Power Station caught fire this morning and destroyed all its generators, disrupting power supply in the township. The news report is misleading and not true.
The Port Moresby Grid experienced at total system outage at 3.43am this morning due to faults located on our transmission line at the Kanudi Power Station. While our teams immediately undertook restoration work, the system experienced a second outage at 5.57am. PNG Power begun the second restoration work at 6.00am and eventually power supply was restored to all our Port Moresby substations at Bomana, Waigani, Boroko, Konedobu and Kanudi. By 8.30am, the system was fully restored.
On Wednesday 30 March, the New Zealand High Commissioner, Phillip Taula, and PNG Power Management accompanied by the Member for Rigo, Hon. Lekwa Gure and representatives from the PNG Electrification Partnership, visited Hula to commission the recently completed Hula section of the New Zealand-funded Rural On-Grid Extension Project in Central Province. The project was implemented by PNG Power under the PNG Electrification Partnership.Beginning in 2016, the K40 million Rural On-Grid Extension Project extends the Port Moresby Grid into Central Province, delivering new electricity connections across four project sites covering Bisiatabu to Owers Corner, Sabusa to Brown River Station and Tubuseria to Kwikila, and in 2018 the project scope was extended to include Hula.
Power supply from the Ramu Hydropower Station into Kundiawa, Minj, Banz, Mt Hagen, Ialibu, Mendi and Wabag was fully restored by 2.30pm this afternoon. Restoration time took longer than expected due to bad weather conditions and challenges on site however the team managed to ensure power supply was fully restored after 7 days. Tower 101 at Dumum Village in Chimbu Province was brought down to the ground by fallen trees intentionally chopped down by locals.
Work on the restoration of power supply into the Upper Highlands Region is still ongoing as of this afternoon. PNG Power expects to have the work completed tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon and have full power supply restored to the Upper Highlands Region townships of Kundiawa, Minj, Banz, Mt Hagen, Ialibu, Mendi and Wabag. We would also like to correct the misleading headline put out on the front page of the Post-Courier today (Tuesday February 8) stating that the power outage will be off for an indefinite period.
All valued Electricity Consumers and the general public are advised that PNG Power has begun blocking off Easipay Meters which are detected on our Easipay system to be not in operation.This includes meters which are installed to active customers but may not be buying power and are deemed as illegal connections. This also includes meters which have been connected without verification by PNG Power.
PNG Power has developed an Early Retirement Package Program with great benefit for its employees who have are in the early retirement age bracket of 50-59 years. This is an important initiative for the company to manage its aging workforce and at the same time an opportunity to attract young, vibrant and energetic workforce and put in place talent with a new mindset and culture into the business. There have been a lot issues raised in the mainstream and social media about the customer service and performance levels of PNG Power employees. Having an active workforce with dedication and commitment is critical to drive business to meet customer expectations.
_413_196.jpg)
On Friday 23 April, the New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E Phillip Taula and PNG Power Managing Director, Mr. Flagon Bekker, signed the Contract for Works for the Enga Electrification Project, which clears the path for construction to commence on the Ramu Grid extension.Jointly funded by New Zealand and Australia under the five-nation PNG Electrification Partnership announced during the November 2018 APEC Leaders Meeting in PNG, and implemented by PNG Power Limited (PPL), this PGK50 million project extends the Ramu grid into the Tsak Valley in the Wapenamanda District of Enga Province. The project will connect up to 5,500 rural households, schools, health centres, government offices and businesses within 500 metres of the main transmission lines.
State Owned Enterprise, PNG Power Limited, recently hosted a Power Sector Forum witth Independent Power Producers to discuss next steps in the reform of electricity costs in the country. At this event, the first of its kind, PNG Power’s Managing Director, Flagon Bekker, announced that after a detailed analysis of all feasible options for least cost generation of electricity for grids in the country, PNG Power was giving notice to all Independent Power Producers that their power purchase agreements were being closely reviewed. He emphasised, “We do not see this as a meeting between PNG Power and IPPs but rather between the people of PNG and the power producers.”
