PNG Power Ltd

Mr Nupiri says he has no comments to make in relation to the recent arrest and charging of Ms Blacklock as the matter might now be before the Committal Court, suffice to state at the outset that he denies any wrongdoing against the interest of PNG Power and the State. 

Prime Minister James Marape said this during the recent launching of the NiuPower Plant outside Port Moresby.

“By this time next year, PNG Power would have phased out high cost of diesel fuel run generators. I want power to be run off hydro and gas next year,” said Marape.

Marape said the Government’s goal was to reduce the cost of power by 50 percent.

The court case relates to a fatal electrocution at Kipo Settlement in East Boroko on January 5^th, 2019.

The case filed by ICCC alleges that PNG Power failed to comply with Section 37 (a) of the Electricity Industry Act to report the incident of 5th January 2019 and was in breach of the law.

PPL says in-house lawyers are currently reviewing the case and will provide responses at the court hearing in November.

In a statement, PPL said Sirinumu landowners unlawfully trespassed all Rouna power stations and shut down their operations at 3.55am today.

Acting managing director, Carolyn Blacklock, said demands made by the landowners are to the State and have no relation to PNG Power.

“Attempts made by senior management to calmly resolve the matter have been rejected by the landowners,” she said.

Acting Managing Director, Carolyn Blacklock, received the payment from the Member for Okapa District, Saki Saloma.

This project will be achieved through the Electrification Partnership Project with PNG Power. Blacklock said more than 150,000 lives will benefit from this electrification project.

“Lots and lots of schools, churches and health clinics will benefit from power along the way,” she said.

PNG Power will run transmission lines as well as connecting distribution lines directly into people’s houses.

PNG Power Ltd said this location had experienced power outage last night due to a fallen tree onto a service pole.

“The PNG Power field team responded and disconnected supply to the area, then progressed onto other faults whilst waiting for the fallen tree to be cleared,” said PPL acting managing director, Carolyn Blacklock.  

“Sometime during the night, it seemed that an unauthorised energizing of this connection had occurred, rendering the service pole dangerous.

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.

He has been charged under Section 49 of the Electricity Industry Act and in police custody.

On 29 June 2018, the offender allegedly chopped down a tree that fell onto another nearby tree and subsequently forced it to fall onto low voltage power lines supplying Massi and Kerefa villages, thus causing extensive damage to the 25 KVA power transformer located near Massi Lutheran Church.

The total damages valued up to K34,000.

This is the first time a community has taken the step to remove illegal connections in their area. Most of the time, PNG Power engages police force during disconnection exercises in centres around the country.

This disconnection exercise began on 04 September 2018, and will continue into other neighbouring villages in the Gehemo Council Ward until all illegal connections are identified and removed.

A K2.6 million project by the New Zealand government saw the launch of the power line extension project at Vesulogo village yesterday.

Construction started on the rural on grid extension project in April last year in the Koiari area.

The 22 kilovolts powerline extension covers 12.8km, connecting more than 200 homes.

An exercise that would have cost more than K1,000 per household to connect power; for those along the Bisiatabu to Owers’ Corner, the connection is free of charge.