To fund electrification in PNG, the United States government through the USA Agency for International Development is set to invest US$57million.
According to United States Ambassador to PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Erin McKee, electricity brings up the living standards of towns, cities, and remote villages. This also lets hospitals and schools bring essential service and this is also an important predecessor for the growth of the private sector - which includes SMEs.
Ambassador McKee said that Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, an independent non-profit research institute, will spearhead this initiative. She said that the progress being undertaken by PNG requires large-scale investment by both the private and public sector. This also involves investments in connecting service providers, households, and businesses to the grid where communities are isolated and have a difficult time communicating with one another.
In partnership with the PNG government, the US guarantees that a target of 200,000 new household electricity connections are done through the strengthening of the operations of the PPL and increase in revenues. This is also to improve the grid electrification marvels to bring up electricity access in many distant communities.
For his part, Minister for Energy William Onglo expressed his gratitude to the US government and its people for helping them through these troubled times, and for their continued support.
