Who would have thought so much could ride on an All Blacks Test against Argentina? But this weekend's game has taken on much more significance given the side's first ever loss to the Pumas two weeks ago and the fact they've lost two tests on the trot - something they haven't done since 2011. Some All Blacks fans and punters might be baying for Ian Foster's blood but would getting rid of the All Blacks coach be a short-sighted knee jerk reaction or right move? We're also talking cricket - the Black Caps international summer gets underway with a three match T20 series against the West Indies. It's been 260 days since the New Zealanders last played - so what can we expect? And Wynton Rufer talks about getting the better of the late great Diego Maradona. Joining Bridget Tunnicliffe on RNZ's Extra Time is White Fern Suzie Bates from managed isolation with an update on her injury status, veteran cricket commentator Bryan Waddle, and RNZ sports reporters Joe Porter and Barry Guy. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/extratime-20201127-1300-extra_time_for_27_november_2020-128.mp3"][/audio] Source: rnz.co.nz  

THE oversupply of power into Port Moresby’s power grid has its benefits, one being a reduction of the cost of electricity passed on to customers but benefiting from this will now depend on an improved distribution of electricity provided by PNG Power Ltd (PPL), the state-owned power company. PNG Power Board Chairman Mr. Peter Nupiri, when speaking at the commissioning of the new Dirio Gas and Power plant in central province on Thursday 19th November, said with this oversupply, the company will now be looking at how it can be able to utilize it. “We now need to start looking at how we can be able to utilize that power. That of course is a challenge for PNG Power,” he said. But some of the power infrastructures that have been classified as poor or deteriorating, must be fixed, or improved also to cater for this supply, so that uninterrupted service can take place. Therefore, the focus will be on putting the money where it is needed, that is in the infrastructures, but funding has always been an ongoing challenge with PNG Power. “Many of you know PNG Power we have not been doing very well, but it’s a long journey and we have all those challenges there. In terms of power generation, Port Moresby we are okay, but we still have to address a whole lot of other issues we have.” “We haven’t been able to invest enough money to upgrade, to repair our existing infrastructure. That’s our biggest challenge in the Port Moresby grid” But this is not stopping the power company to put in efforts to improve its service to the people. Mr. Nupiri, also announced that work is being done to really do something about this matter. “We are starting to do some work through ADB, there is a 60million Kina funding with some studies going on at the moment to try to understand what’s happening with the grid, so we can improve,” he said. Meanwhile, the oversupply is attributed to direct input of 45 megawatts from the new Dirio gas power plant, 55 megawatts from the Niu Power gas power plant and 40 megawatts from Rouna hydro. This, however, will further increase with 25 megawatts from Edevu hydro power plant in central province. PNG Power is responsible for the distribution of electricity on the city’s grid, and apart from its own Rouna power stations, it purchases power from other providers such as Dirio and Niu Power.

The newest private power plant, Dirio Gas & Power project in Central province, should boost the electricity supply to the city of Port Moresby after it was launched just recently. It was officially opened on Thursday 19th of November by Prime Minister (PM) James Marape, to start generating electricity using gas supplied from the PNG LNG project. The plant will generate 45 megawatts (MW) of power that will be supplied to the city’s power grid at a rate of 37 toea per kilowatt, which will then be distributed by PNG Power Ltd as per the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between the two companies. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dirio-Power.mp3"][/audio] Hela Governor, Philip Undialu, hopes that from this major achievement, the developers of the PNG LNG project will now have great confidence in the resource landowners in getting into other major business projects in the future. “We have 20 years of power supply contract with PNG Power and almost 25 years of gas supply from ExxonMobil PNG, so your investment is not wasted,” he said. “Welcome you all to the class of corporate world, we are no longer the bystanders, rent collectors and royalty collectors.” He also thanked everyone involved including the National Government, for getting this massive project off the ground for the landowners. The idea to invest in the electricity business was coined back in 2018 when the project’s initial stages also started. Meanwhile, PNG Power Ltd has been urged to put together a formula that should see residents and business houses in Port Moresby pay less for electricity supply. PM Marape said with Dirio coming online and Niu Power already producing electricity, plus the hydro power generation coupled with other private power producers generating electricity, means over 103 megawatts of power is now supplied to the city, which is an oversupply of electricity, and this should see a reduction in the cost of sale of electrical energy to PNG Power. “I want all our manufacturing plants in Port Moresby to have excess to cheap power. PNG Power you now have first opportunity with half the cost of power being passed to you, I want this to be passed on to customers and customers to enjoy cheap power in Port Moresby,” said the PM. The Dirio project proposed to supply Port Moresby with 45 MW of power using natural gas purchased from the PNG LNG Project. The plant will operate three 15 MW Titan Solar turbines, producing the total energy capacity of 45 MW. The landowner company signed the PPA with PNG Power in September 2019, agreeing to supply electricity at a price lower than other third-party suppliers. Dirio aims to deliver cheaper power, making electricity more affordable.

The 2021 National Budget was passed in parliament yesterday in a house consisting mostly of government members, but whether due process was followed or whether if it was legal the way it was passed, is now up to the lawyers of both sides of the house to debate on. The Executive Director of the Papua New Guinea Institute of National Affairs (PNG INA), Mr. Paul Barker, who commented on what unfolded yesterday, said it is true that the proper process was not followed and this was attributed to the situation surrounding the two sides at the moment, which are the legal aspects of the adjournment of parliament by the Opposition to December 1st and the reconvening of the sitting called for by the Speaker of Parliament, which the recent events that unfolded in parliament, lead to. “The Opposition was not present, certainly the government would argue they chose to leave, and the argument would be made by the government that the adjournment was not conducted accordingly. I will leave that to the lawyers to debate the requirements,” he said. “But, if that was valid and if it was not adjourned properly, then I suppose that parliament had not adjourned and therefore was still sitting and therefore, the budget session was still ongoing and the government of the day had all the right to proceed.” “Legality is one thing; due process is another and you can argue that parliament is not being used to its fullest, and the openness and transparency process is not being used.” “I have no doubt that during the course of time the Opposition will be seeking legal advice as will be the government and maybe battling it out for reference in the supreme court for the legality.” He said the courts will be tested to give their assessments on what the Government and the Opposition have done in the last few days. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Legality-and-Due-Process_.mp3"][/audio]