Plans are underway to illuminate the entire Kandep district with the electricity supply from PNG Power Limited at a cost of K10 million, says Opposition Leader and local MP Don Polye.
“Officials from a consultant company were sent to Kandep today (Friday 3, July 2) to do a feasibility study on this project,” said Mr Polye when presenting his district’s DSIP acquittal report to the Department of Rural Implementation.
He said when the study is completed, the Yonki power grid would be pulled along the newly sealed Kandep-Mendi highway from the Southern Highlands to his district.
The project, he said, will raise the profile of the district as there are many projects nearing completion or under construction like the Kandep-Laiagam/Porgera road, police barracks, and rural hospital.
He said they were waiting for the implementation of an overdue electricity project generated by the Hides gas venture which was announced by the past government but to date nothing tangible had taken place.
Polye said the gas project was to cover all of the Highlands region but due to politics, it had been delayed.
Meanwhile, Mr Polye said the people of Hela and Kandep were denied the only road access by the government when a K39 million allocation for the proposed longest bridge in PNG connecting Hela and Enga was diverted to other projects outside the district.