Blackout

The cause of the power outage is due to a mechanical fault to a PNG Power generator that has taken this long to fix. 

PPL Kerema Manager, Dos Ipanda in March had assured town residents that the generator was experiencing faults due to damaged engine parts; and PPL would make purchase of the spare parts abroad.

Since then the power blackouts still continues into the month of June, as town residents don’t know when power will be restored.

In a statement, PNG Power advised its customers and the general public in Lae and surrounding areas outside of the city that the issue started midday yesterday.

“The fault has been identified to be between Munum IPP Power Station and Taraka Substation and Power Station,” said PPL.

“The fault is affecting the supply of electricity into Lae city from the Munum Power Station and the Ramu Grid.

“Line patrol conducted on Saturday afternoon until the fall of dark has been called off and will continue again at first sunlight.

Ensisi and Waigani are some of these areas that welcomed the New Year with a power outage which was restored in the early hours of January 2^nd, then went out again in the evening and is yet to be restored on January 3^rd.

In a statement on their Facebook page, PNG Power Ltd said with the bad weather conditions, they are unable to provide restoration times however, their teams are working in the affected areas to restore supply.