William Duma

Minister for State Owned Enterprises, William Duma, said this in a statement in response to recent comments made in the media by several national leaders in support of the coal fired power project in Morobe Province by Mayur Resources.

“PPL is reviewing its Power Plan for the Ramu Grid and investigating various types of power generation sources, including coal, to determine the least cost power generation solution that best meets the demand of current and future Ramu Grid customers and takes into account development such as Wafi-Golpu mine,” he said.

Minister for Public Investment and State Enterprise, William Duma, revealed this in Parliament today.

Duma was responding to Bougainville Regional MP, Joe Lera, who queried why the Ramazon project was stalled. He asked why the hydropower facility was not built since its initiation between 2012 and 2013.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project is expected to provide reliable power supply to 60-70,000 people of North Bougainville, especially those in Buka Town and surrounding villages.

Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments, William Duma, says the current Government remains confident they will survive a Vote of No Confidence.

“The Government is intact and we have the numbers. The Prime Minister enjoys the support of the majority of the numbers,” Duma stated.

The Supreme Court delivered its ruling today, putting the trial, which was scheduled to commence on 14 January on halt, while it reviews the decision by the National Court, which allowed one ground in the petition to go for trial.

Leave to review the National Court’s decision was granted by the Chief Justice, who sat as a single Supreme Court judge, last month.

Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments, William Duma, said this when announcing the new managing directors of Air Niugini and Kumul Telikom PNG.

Duma announced the appointments of Alan Milne as MD of Air Niugini, and Paul Hyde as MD for Telikom PNG.

Duma said improving domestic services was a high priority for both organisations.

He stated that both companies were vital mechanisms in the economic growth of the country.

He said this was on the agenda as part of the goal to improve services.

Minister Duma said the immediate area of concern was to serve the people first.

“In the case of Air Niugini, our priority is to serve our people first and continue to provide services to our people, including some of those non-profitable domestic routes. So the preference is to providing the service that people expect.

“People also complain that the costs being charged by Air Niugini for tickets are quite expensive. We want to see an eventual reduction,” Duma stated.

The State and Ramu 2 Hydro Developer, Shenzen Company Limited, are finalizing discussions with the launching expected in November.

Under the agreement the State along with the Provinces of Eastern Highlands and Morobe, and Landowners will own 30% while Shenzen Energy has a 70% stake.

Minister for State Owned Enterprises, William Duma, says discussions with landowners and the Province have already commenced and they are awaiting the commercial agreement to be finalized.

This was revealed by developer, Shenzen Energy.

Shenzen Energy Group President, Pingyang Wang, and his team met with Minister for State Owned Enterprises, William Duma, and Kumul Consolidated Holdings Managing Director, Darren Young, as discussions on the Ramu 2 Hydro Project are being concluded.

Wang and his team have been in the country since Sunday meeting with the Prime Minister and major development partners such as Ramu Nico.

Mr Duma said with the new management appointed by the Cabinet recently will look into some problems the airline company is facing.

Responding to questions from Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin, State Enterprises Minister William Duma confirmed that the airline is going through some difficult challenges.

“The cost of airfreight now also increased to 100 percent and our people cannot afford such increase.

“Can we get some clarity as to why such increase is so huge for our people?”

Lawyers representing petitioner James Puk, who is disputing William Duma’s election, will return to court next week Monday for directions.

Parties in the petition appeared in court today where the National Court handed down its ruling on two motions.

One of the motions, filed by Hagen Open MP, William Duma, asked the court to dismiss the petition even before the objection motion, which challenges the competency of James Puk’s petition is heard.

The National Court dismissed this motion as it was misconceived.