Photo credit: National Energy Authority
According to an official, the National Energy Authority is enforcing stricter regulations on the energy and electrical industries in Papua New Guinea, and experts must hold a licence to practise.
In Kavieng, New Ireland, recently, acting managing director Ronald Meketa made this statement at the start of the first electrical licensure exam for the New Guinea Islands conducted under his supervision.
“Power-generating firms and plants will have to adhere to industry best practices and technical standards when setting up operations, so professionals in the electrical sector must be certified or have a licence to be able to carry out installation work in PNG,” he said.
The initial 29 electricians took their two-day electrical exams under test subjects ‘Theory of Applied Electricity’ and ‘PNG Wiring Rules’.
“We will continue to conduct these examinations in the other regions of PNG because it is of importance that we have well equipped and certified professionals carrying out electrical installations in the energy sector,” Meketa said.
He stated that candidates taking the exam had to meet requirements such as being at least 19 years old, having finished an apprenticeship program, holding an electrical trade certificate, having graduated from electrical engineering school, and having at least five years of work experience.
“The electrical licences are recognised internationally and have to be renewed after every seven years,” Meketa said.
“While all overseas electrical professionals will also be required to show the same certification to work in PNG.”
Meketa said that his organisation was working to enlist additional alternative power producers to assist address the ongoing power disruptions that
“For better management of power distribution, we have to have separate power producers and distributors,” he said.
“The authority is on the path to rectifying this issue by engaging a wider stakeholder approach which involves provincial governments and district development authorities.”
Reference: The National (16 November 2022). “Energy sector lifts standards”.
