K3.5 million has been given to PNG Power Ltd (PPL) to put up a power transmission line from Popondetta to Girua Airport.
Richard Maru, Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, on behalf of the Government today gave the funds.
This effort by the Government complements the K45 million investment by the National Airports Corporation in upgrading Girua Airport in the Northern Province.
This support is to make Girua, which is the only airport in the country with no power connection to the PNG Power grid, to see the light of day.
The government is funding the 15 kilometre powerline from Popondetta to Girua Airport to the tune of K3.5 million.
This project comes under the Government’s rural electrification project that is being implemented by PPL and monitored by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.
This project will not only power up the Girua Airport, which has been upgraded, but will also give the 2000 people along the Popondetta-Girua powerline corridor opportunities to enter into Small to Medium Enterprises and improve their quality of life.
The people can now go to Investment Promotion Authority to get proper registration of their small businesses and companies, and to Internal Revenue Commission to organise their tax payments to drive start-ups along this new powerline corridor.
The Northern Province is the gateway to one of PNG’s iconic tourism site, the Kokoda Track, and this improvement to the Girua Airport will give confidence to the travelling public.
(A.CEO PNG Power Alex Oa, Minister Richard Maru and Ijivitari MP’s First Secretary Windsor Claude)