By Wanpis Ako
Port Moresby: Sole electricity authority, PNG Power Limited is serious in reducing the power tariff from an average of PNG K1 (US$0.29) Kilowatt Hour to a new low price.
Acting Managing Director Carolyn Blacklock said this is part of a transition that the company is undergoing.
She was speaking at the end of Walk and Yoga for Life program in Port Moresby’s Paga Hill ring road this morning (Sunday, September 9, 2018).
She added that since taking office some six months ago, the cash-strapped company has made significant progresses with more work yet to be done.
Ms. Blackwell cited the restoration of Paunda Hydro station at the border of Southern and Western Highlands provinces last Friday after it was defunct for four years.
It was synchronized with Ramu 1 Unit to supply a total of 16 MW power to the main grid, she said.
“We want to grow this business by six times. We want to make power affordable for everybody. We want to reduce the price of power by 50 percent in the next few years. This is a big, big promise. It is a big endeavor,” a determined Blacklock told the participants.
She further said at the moment only 800, 000 people, mostly in the urban centers, have access to electricity.
“We want at least 6 million people to have power. We are family-focused on this just like the governor who is also family-focused on cleaner, greener, safer city for everyone,” she told them.
The provision of electricity in the city has been improved, she stated.
Blacklock emphasized the need for the country to tap into renewable, reliable and affordable sources of energy doing away with imported diesel and other fuel products.
Power boss assured NCD Governor Powes Parkop that they would increase the capacity of electricity to cater for his Settlement to Suburb upgrade program which is being implemented.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Papua New Guinea. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended to the Prime Minister's Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy. He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.
Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Papua New Guinea. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended to the Prime Minister's Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy. He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.
