Northern will start generating about K25 million per annum following the development of major infrastructure in the province, Governor Gary Juffa says.
Juffa, who is on the south coast leg of his campaign trial in the Afore Local Level Government, said Northern is growing and experiencing more developments than before.
He said from an annual revenue of K900,000 a year in 2012, the province will now be able to generate K25m.
“Revenue for Oro was K900,000 when I took office today its K7m and with the Divune hydro power project will increase to about K25m.”
Juffa said the provincial government will now be able to generate K10m to K15m through the K70m Divune Hydro power project.
“If you think about 2012, Popondetta was called Cowboy town and Northern was known for law and order issues.
“That is now a thing of the past and it’s about leadership, we took ownership of our province,” he said.
Juffa said from 2007 to 2012, after Cyclone Guba hit Northern, the Australian government pledged funding to help rebuild the province but no one did anything.
“When we took office I spent six months going through the processes and we were able to attend to all the issues that prevented the development from taking place in Northern.
“Finally, we completed our task, cleared the way and the bridges were built and the airport was built,” he said.
Juffa said the Divune Hydro project was dormant for 35 years until 2014 when an agreement was signed between the Asian Development Bank (ADB), PNG Power Limited, the National and the provincial government.
“Two months ago, Prime Minister James Marape travelled the Kokoda Highway to launch the Divune Hydro power project. That hydro will generate between K10m to K15m in revenue for Oro province. We are building a house and it’s taking time but slowly and surely we will get there.”
“The hydro will be given to us and when the new provincial government takes over, hopefully they will look after these things and put to good use this money,” Juffa said.
Story from Peoples Movement for Change