The United States Agency for International Development through its PNG Lukautim Graun Program (USAID LGP) is working to protect Papua New Guinea’s rich biodiversity with the awarding of small grants to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These funds will reduce threats to biodiversity, strengthen traditional landowner’s rights, and promote women’s economic empowerment. Madang based Non-Government Organisation, Mas Kagin Tapani Association (MAKATA), is among the recipients of these small grants involved in empowering local communities to protect species of critically endangered leatherback sea turtles that share their coastal regions. With grant support from USAID LGP, MAKATA conducted community journalism training at Alexishafen, Sumkar…
Author: Kerebi DAVID
Fish farming is now growing in the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea as more new farmers show interest in it. Mr. Jacob Towa, owner of Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery Farm in the Western Highlands Province and private fish farming consultant, highlighted that in the recent years more and more farmers have cut out big patch of their land and converted them into fishponds for fish farming. Mr. Towa stated that the demand for fish in the Highlands region is also increasing, thus it has become one of the main protein dishes for many households now. “More and more…
Japan’s release of over one million tonnes of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific is officially underway. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings has confirmed that the disposal started at 1pm local time on Thursday. “This is a big step and punctuating moment in the process of decommissioning,” TEPCO spokesperson Junichi Matsumoto told media on Thursday. “We will have 30 years or so [to release the water], we will ensure safety and quality. “We will accomplish this discharge, we have to buckle down ourselves and we have to do it with an intense attitude,” he said. TEPCO said it was an…
Kundiawa Gembogl member Muguwa Dilu is now calling on the National Disaster and Emergency Service (NDES) to quickly move into provinces and assess the drought situation that is currently hitting the country. Mr Dilu said the National Weather Service has informed that the El Nino induced drought hitting the country will develop but it is unclear whether the National Disaster and Emergency Service (NDES) and relevant state agencies are moving to assess the situation on the ground and recommending mitigation measures needed. “By now we should know how bad the drought is affecting our people in the provinces.” “I am…
The U.S. Embassy Port Moresby announces the departure of the Chargé d’Affaires Joe Zadrozny who served as Chief of Mission since April 14, 2022. Mr. Zadrozny first arrived in Papua New Guinea in August 2021 to assume the role of Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy. Prior to his departure, Zadrozny met with Prime Minister Marape to highlight our ongoing commitment to development and prosperity in Papua New Guinea and during the meeting, he relayed the message that the United States is committed to working with Papua New Guinea to reach its goals, including becoming economically independent. Chargé…
Pacific leaders are still on the fence about proposed plans to release treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific – with Japan set to announce its final sign-off and start date. The past, present and future Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) chairs – known as Troika – have not decided if they are for or against the imminent discharge. The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has been urged at its meeting in Port Vila this week urging Japan not to go through with the release. Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Matai Seremaiah said Japan’s plans to release the treated wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima power…
PNG Power’s much needed technical equipment to complete installation works for its new Edevu Hydro Power Station and the Moitaka Sub Station have finally arrived in Port Moresby, directly from Shenzhen, China last night (Sunday 20th August 2023). A Boeing 767 cargo freighter loaded with close to 100 tons of PNG Power cargoes, mostly Switching Gears and Control Panels, landed safely on a four (4) hour direct flight, it is said to be the first of its kind. State Enterprise Minister William Duma, China’s Ambassador to PNG Mr Zeng Fanhua, KCH Board and Management team, Air Niugini and NAC as…
Chimbu, Hela and Southern Highlands Province continue to remain under Drought Watch and these provinces will be on a three months’ timescale watch. The National Weather Service reveals that Southern Highlands is at Drought Watch with severe vulnerability and exposure levels. At this stage, El Nino Alert also continues, and the Climate Models suggest that a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event is likely to develop by early September and the impacts tend to be more extreme when El Nino events are compounded with a positive IOD event. Right now, the National Weather Office has pointed out that drought critical…
Ocean clean-up crews have fished out the most trash ever taken from one of the largest garbage patches in the world. The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit environmental engineering organization, saw its largest extraction earlier this month by removing about 25,000 pounds of trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Alex Tobin, head of public relations and media for the organisation, told ABC News. The vessels are currently on the way back to port in Victoria, British Columbia, after having collected about 50 tons of garbage in four weeks, Tobin said. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an enormous pile of floating…
PNG Power Limited is advising its valued customers and the public in Port Moresby that they will be undertaking an important maintenance work under the Rouna 1 Rehabilitation Project this weekend. This project is part of the Port Moresby Grid Development Project and work will begin from 12.00 am (midnight) Saturday, August 19, 2023, to 12.00 am (midnight), Monday, August 21, 2023, and will affect the water supply in NCD. However, PPL anticipates that it will not affect the power supply in NCD. This critical work will involve cutting and blanking off the current shared pipeline between PNG Power Ltd…