Work is underway to repair and upgrade infrastructure through an Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds of K60 million.
This is according to PNG Power Ltd chairman Peter Nupiri who adds that power generation in the Port Moresby grid was okay but they are now dealing with transmission problems.
“We started to do some work now,” he said. “Through ADB, there is a K60 million funding. Some studies are going on at the moment with the grids to understand how best we can improve. In terms of power generation, in Port Moresby we are okay. But we have to work on power transmission and other issues that we have. We haven’t been able to invest enough money to upgrade and repair our existing infrastructure. That’s our biggest challenge in the Port Moresby grid. Once we get that completed, we can get some work happening.”
According to him, funding is one of the bigger challenges.
“We were not able to internally invest in the business, but that is among other issues that we have,” he said.
With Dirio now online, Nupiri said that they are still looking at ways to best sell the rest of the power supply. He added that a couple of years ago, PNG Power had ventured on fuel switch from the high-cost fuel diesel to gas in the interim. In the long-term, the smaller hydro is able to share with the wealth and the risk.
“That’s our strategy, so with the commissioning of this gas power plant, fits into that plan,” he said.
