Photo credit: Samo Trebizan/Shutterstock
According to MP Douglas Tomuriesa, a K3 million hydropower plant capable of powering Goodenough Island in Milne Bay will be erected to serve the people of Kiriwina-Goodenough.
“We have already contracted it out, we have just recently paid out K380,000 to the contractor and they have told us that it will cost us about K3 million to build a hydropower station,” Tomuriesa said.
“That will bring in somewhere between 4.5 megawatts to 6 megawatts of power.”
He said that six megawatts would be more than adequate for the island and could easily power a big city.
Tomuriesa stated that the firm conducted surveys and that work will continue.
On Wednesday, he was in the district to officially inaugurate the Vivigani airstrip, a classroom, and a teacher's residence for Vivigani Primary School.
Meanwhile, Tomuriesa stated that four sawmills were located in Alotau and would be spread to the surrounding towns.
He stated that the sawmills will be utilized to chop lumber for home construction in preparation for the hydropower station's completion.
“It is not easy to get money from the Government so when you see power poles, classrooms and airports coming up, look after them.”
He said that the new projects will allow Vivigani companies to expand.
About 30,000 cocoa trees may be found on Goodenough Island.
“Just two weeks ago, a boat came and loaded 100 bags of cocoa and took them to Alotau, that is more than 25 tonnes of cocoa, that brought an estimated K102,000 into the economy of Goodenough Island.
“Organic cocoa is what the world wants, it is what the market wants,” Tomuriesa said.
On Goodenough Island, he added, nine cocoa fermentaries had been erected, with another eight on the way, as well as seedlings for local farmers.
Reference: Esila, Peter. The National (17 September 2021). “K3mil For Hydro Project”.
