The people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) can expect more electricity projects to power homes and business through donor partners like the New Zealand (NZ) government continuing its support for electricity projects in the country.
NZ’s High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Philip Taula, said with this great partnership NZ will continue to closely work with PNG to promote better electricity service and try connecting 70% of the country by 2030, under the PNG Electricity Partnership (PEP) with countries like Japan, Australia and the United States as announced during the 2018 APEC Summit held in the country.
High Commissioner Taula, who spoke at the recent commissioning of one of these electricity projects- Hula Electrification Project in Central province, said this is one of the projects under the New Zealand government’s cooperation with the country.
“A key focus for New Zealand, both now and the future, is to try to extend the national grid (Electricity grid) into rural areas and to support renewable off- grid generation aimed at connecting households, businesses, schools and public buildings,” said the high commissioner.
“New Zealand has worked in this sector for many years. Over the last decade we’ve funded electrification projects to increase household connection in Enga, Oro, West New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville as well as Central province.”
“We’ve also provided policy development support, for example to draft PNG’s geothermal policy. New Zealand is also working with PEP to help to strengthen institutions such as PNG Power Limited and the National Energy Authority, which are both critical to success in the sector.”
He added that his country plans to work with the other partner donors under the PEP to further increase the number of connection right across the country because there is still a great deal of work to be done.
“I believe that this kind of partnership in bringing power to people’s homes and communities can transform lives. We see important value in education and health.”
The high commissioner concluded by saying that helping bring power to the houses so that children can do their studies at night time and making household tasks easier, and supporting families health and welfare, drives the purpose of this partnership in helping bring electricity service to the people. Picture: The New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG