Photo: Marape in Parliament Recently
As the new National Energy Authority (NEA) develops from strength to strength within a year of its inception, structural changes to boost energy output and tap into Papua New Guinea's alternative power-generation sources continue.
Hon. Saki Soloma gave the country an update on the NEA's work since its two enabling legislation, the National Energy Act 2021 and the Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2021, were approved in April of last year, establishing it.
The NEA is one of Prime Minister Hon. David Cameron's constituents. James Marape's aims to assist industrialize the PNG economy remain at the top of the agenda, along with the Connect PNG Program in civil infrastructure. The NEA was created as a result of his government uniting behind the passage of the NEA.
The Prime Minister joined members of Parliament who came out in support of NEA and Minister Soloma's efforts to get the statutory body up and running.
According to him, NEA takes over as the electricity regulator, leaving PNG Power Ltd with little choice but to operate as a power supply firm under a license.
This instantly opens the way for new power-supply businesses to operate in PNG, which the Prime Minister rapidly took advantage of today in Parliament to demand.
Bougainville, Manus, New Ireland, Oro, and a number of other locations not linked to the PNG power grid will be able to benefit from this new scenario, with the Prime Minister urging provincial governments to begin looking into developing it.
PNG, according to the Prime Minister, has a plethora of alternative energy sources, including solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal energy, which the NEA plans to develop.
Even though it is still in its early stages, NEA has already formed collaborations with Australian investor Fortescue Future Industries in the geothermal and hydropower sectors, with the goals of local supply as well as international export and commerce.
The idea behind the current power programs involving the "four-nation" aid partners, according to the Prime Minister, is to get each of these financiers to support the development of supply lines into the country's most populous areas, similar to Japan's current support for the Yonki-Lae 132kva grid.
Several more will be discovered, including the Yonki-Madang-Wewak supply chain.
“Vision 2050 clearly states that by 2030, 70 per cent of our citizens must have access to electricity. So it is consistent with a national focus that by 2050, and the three MTDs that we have operated thus far, that the 70 per cent target is achieved – if not in 2030, at the very earliest,” said PM Marape.
Reference: PM James Marape News Page (1 March 2022). “PM Marape invites creation of power companies”.
