Kokopo District is focused on ensuring its people, through communities in its three local level governments and Kokopo City, are lit up, says Kokopo Member Ereman ToBaining Jnr.
ToBaining, who is also the Governor for East New Britain Province, says: “Since 2013 up till today, we’ve completed 40-50 kilometres of rural electrification”.
He describes those who now have access to rural electrification as being in the ‘front page’ as they are accessing power right at their doorsteps.
“A few months ago there were commissioning of some of these rural electrification and again we will continue this year and 2017 and beyond to complete all the rural electrification in Kokopo district,” says the Govermor.
“It’s our biggest challenge and again it’s the government’s obligation for this sort of infrastructure that must be completed so that people can access services like rural electrification and of course, water supply.
“Again there is funding available now, another K400,000 for this year’s Yumi Rural Electrification at Tabuna and its five kilometres of rural electrification.
“From there we can continue to Tapo, Rainao and it will go up to Malakuna and Makurapau,” says ToBaining Jnr.
“In Raluana LLG, we’ve roughly completed 15 kilometres of rural electrification from Tinganalom to Ranguna and of course from Ravat to Kunaikunai.
“Those places for the last 40 years had no power.
“Our target is before 2017, and beyond, we will light up the four corners of Kokopo district.
“Of course because of the capacity of the power supply in Kokopo district, today as I speak it is 9.8 megawatts that is supplying the whole province.”
He thanked business houses for their understanding and putting up with the power outages throughout the province.
ToBaining also states he is pleased with the bold decision and initiative of Bitapaka LLG for coming up with the construction of Solar Farming.
Bitapaka LLG, in Kokop District, applied through the City Authority to carry out the project.
ToBaining says it has been endorsed through the Provincial Executive Council, and again through the Provincial Assembly for the vetting process.
“Solar farm will be producing 20 megawatts and I believe with the partnership arrangement with PNG Power Limited, we will work together so that we can cut down on this black out that we are constantly facing in the province.
“So this is something that we need the support from all the leaders - national leaders, stakeholders and the people so that they understand the importance of power in East New Britain,” he says.