Photo: USAID Deputy Mission Director for Pacific Islands and Mongolia, Sean Callahan. Photo credit: Sean Callahan Twitter Page
The PNG Electrification Global Information System has been created by the United States Agency for International Development.
Off-grid energy providers can use the Electrification Global Information System (GIS) platform to find prospective mini-grid locations and regions for selling stand-alone solar goods.
Sean Callahan, USAID's Deputy Mission Director for the Pacific Islands and Mongolia, formally inaugurated the platform during his visit to Papua New Guinea.
According to him, the platform would initially be available to several hundred customers in the electricity industry.
“USAID is pleased to be a partner with stakeholders to bring electricity to rural Papua New Guinea.
This innovative, data-based approach will provide our off-grid partners with the live, up-to-date information they need to further bring electrification to rural communities,” said Deputy Mission Director Callahan.
He explained that the PNG Electrification GIS platform is an interactive mapping tool that allows stakeholders working on electrification in PNG to view hundreds of indicators linked to local populations and communities.
“The platform was developed by the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership (USAID-PEP).
“The USAID-PEP Activity is a five-year, US$57 million project partnership with the PNG government to advance the country’s journey to self-reliance by contributing to the goal of connecting 70 per cent of PNG’s population to electricity by 2030,” he said.
To achieve this aim, USAID-PEP supports PNG Power Limited, develops viable off-grid electrification models, improves PNG's energy regulator, and catalyses private sector investment, according to him.
Reference: Post-Courier (20 May 2022). “Online Platform To Support Electricity In PNG By 2030”.
