Photo credit: From Unicef Papua New Guinea
Water PNG will build a new K419 million water supply plant to meet Port Moresby's growing water demand and stability.
Bunu, a planned 50Mld (millions of litres per day) water supply project in Central, is located 23 kilometres northwest of Port Moresby.
According to a statement from Water PNG, the extension will be enough to satisfy the city's needs until 2034.
The site was recently visited by State Enterprises Minister William Duma, Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey, and Water PNG authorities.
Bunu has been described as a potential alternative water supply to the existing Sirinumu Dam, which is located on the Sogeri plateau. PNG Dams, a subsidiary of Kumul Consolidated Holdings Ltd, owns the Sirinumu dam (KCHL).
The raw water flows in a cascading pattern to PNG Power's Rouna Hydroelectric scheme before being treated and distributed to the city by Water PNG's raw water mains.
Bunu's growth is political. For starters, as a result of PNG Power's repair programs and related matters, city residents will no longer face water shortages and problems such as water rationing and partial shutdowns.
The location is also near the confluence of the Laloki and Brown rivers, where water is plentiful even during droughts. Water PNG is mobilizing capital before going on to the deployment process, following approval from KCH earlier.
China Jiangsu International, the project's contractor, will mobilize staff, conduct a project assessment, conduct geotechnical investigations, prepare a preliminary detailed plan, and procure project materials.
Reference: The National (24 May 2021). “Water PNG announces new K419mil water supply plant”.
