Wutung-Vanimo power project announced

Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru, has announced that the Government is assisting PNG Power Limited to connect power from Wutung to Vanimo.

This project will be through a power purchase agreement with an Indonesian state power company.

The arrangement will supply power to around 10,000 people living in five major villages of Lido, Waromo, Yako, Mushu, and Wutung as well as the K90 million Wutung Border complex to enable border agencies to become fully operational.

Minister Maru said it will be an historic arrangement and for the first time in this country, where PPL is considering buying power through a power purchase agreement from Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

The 42 kilometre project is estimated at around K5 million.

The Government has released K1.5 million to fund the transmission line while options to fund the balance of K3.5 million are being sourced.

The project work will commence next Monday (July 2nd). The first phase of the project is to connect Lido to Vanimo and Wutung village and the Border complex to the PLN supply across the border.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

(The Wutung border)

Author: 
Cedric Patjole