Philip Taula, New Zealand's High Commissioner, and Flagon Bekker, Managing Director of PNG Power Limited, have signed a funding agreement for the Enga Electrification Project, paving the way for work on the Ramu grid extension to begin.
Under the five-nation PNG electrification Partnership, New Zealand and Australia are co-funding the initiative.
It was revealed at the APEC Leaders Meeting in Papua New Guinea in November 2018.
Via the P.E.P, the governments of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the United States are collaborating to help PNG achieve its electrification goal of 70% by 2030.
The Ramu grid is being extended into Tsak Valley in Enga's Wapenamanda District as part of a K50 million initiative.
Within 500 meters of the main transmission lines, the project would link up to 5,500 rural homes, schools, health centres, government offices, and enterprises.
The PNG Electrification Partnership is working on initiatives that will bring about long-term and transformational progress in PNG.
The project aims to extend and improve the power grid, as well as enhance the structural capability, policy and regulatory settings, and provide renewable energy to rural and remote communities.
