PNG Power Limited

The integration of the 54-megawatt Edevu Hydro plant into the Port Moresby grid in October 2023, has stabilized the system, leading to enhanced reliability during peak electricity demand. Although occasional feeder faults occur, the company assures the public that maintenance efforts are underway to minimize power outages.

The Kafale family, led by Mr. Salala Kafale and his wife Gepsy Salala, had been persistently reaching out to PNG Power over the past month to address the malfunctioning easypay meter in their home. Despite their explicit warnings that a delay could result in an electrical fire, their pleas went unanswered.

Salala Kafale recounted the dire situation, stating, "I asked PNG Power Ltd several times for a month to come to my home and replace the faulty easypay meter... I had told the PNG Power department that deals with easypay meters and installation that this could cause a fire."

The Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited the management of PNG Power to engage with the private sector this morning at the Lae Golf Club.

PPL CEO, Obed Batia, and his team were questioned on the frequent blackouts and why residents are not given advanced warning to prepare themselves.

“The current blackouts, or load shedding, have been caused by the Yonki dam level that went down,” said Batia. “Last year, in August, the water level went down to about 18 percent. So far, it has improved due to a few rainfalls, and the capacity has increased to 56 percent.”

Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC), Paulus Ain said recently that the existing power purchase reference prices underpinning all power purchase agreements in Port Moresby Grid and Ramu Grid have been determined by PPL and approved by the ICCC. These reference prices are based on levelized cost of electricity of the different generation options (hydro, thermal, solar, biomass, gas, etc.)

PNG Power Acting Chief Executive Officer, Obed Batia said the project is in line with Government’s desire to improve access by PNG households to reliable power supply.

Approved 6 years ago by the NEC, Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock.Com Ltd (TBEA), a leading international enterprise in power transmission, was contracted to deliver phase 1 and 2 of the project.

“This project makes absolute commercial sense to PNG Power.

Managing Director for Maru Marines, Meremi Maina has vocally raised his frustration against PNG Power saying that hundreds of Kina are been taken by PNG Power for electricity supply but they were not fulfilling its purpose in providing electricity.

He said the company, has lost up to one K1m worth of seafood products due to lack of power supply.

Mr Maina said it’s heart wrecking to see so much money the company has spent on maintaining equipment and machines.

The exercise applies to manufactures, commercial retailers including government departments and state-owned agencies.

In the notice, Acting CEO of PNG Power, Obed Batia said the disconnected customers will be charged a reconnection fee of K10,000 and must pay outstanding debts and a month’s advance bill before electricity supply is restored.

“Ongoing investigations have revealed that many high consumption industrial customers are tempering with credit meters and this deemed illegal,” said Mr Batia.

Directors of Dirio and PNG Power signed an agreement on Wednesday on 20^th of October, which paves the way for Dirio to supply power into the Port Moresby PNG Power grid.

Dirio built and commissioned a 45 mega-watt (MW) power plant at Caution Bay in Central province in November 2020, but was unable to supply electricity due to PNG Power not building a transmission line nor having sufficient capacity and stability on the existing transmission line to take the full supply as per the Power Purchase Agreement.

Magistrate Paul Nill read out the four charges leveled against her and adjourned the matter to October 8^th.

According to Police, the 48-year-old Australian was charged with conspiracy, forgery, false pretense and the misappropriation of K1, 768, 448.25; money belonging to PNG Power Limited.

The court heard that she had allegedly conspired with Peter Nupiri, former Chairman of PNG Power Limited, to fabricate her Contract of Employment between August 2018 and August 2019.

Prosecutor taking carriage of the case, Sergeant Christian Iga informed this newsroom today.

The 48-year-old woman from Australia was charged on Monday 30^th of August in Port Moresby for conspiracy, forgery and false pretense in relation to a “purported” employment contract in 2018.

She is also alleged to have misappropriated over K1.7 million between August 2018 and August 2019, in her capacity as the Acting Managing Director for PNG Power Limited.

Blacklock is currently out on a K3,000 police bail.