The Western, West Sepik and East Sepik provinces will soon see the rollout of the Lighting up The West (LTW) initiative to expand rural electrification into the communities in the three provinces.

This was made possible when Ok Tedi Mining Limited (Ok Tedi) and the National Energy Authority (NEA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) recently to advance the LTW, a transformative program aimed at expanding access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy into communities.

The MoA, signed by Ok Tedi Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kedi Ilimbit, and NEA Managing Director Ronald Meketa, establishes a framework for regulatory cooperation, licensing, and stakeholder engagement to deliver rural electrification through decentralized renewable energy (DRE) solutions in the short- to medium-term, and hydropower in the long- term.

Mr. Ilimbit said: “The Lighting Up the West initiative is a cornerstone of our Growth 2050 Energy Transition strategy, and this MoA with NEA marks a major step toward delivering clean, reliable electric power to communities across the Western Province and beyond.” The initiative aligns with Papua New Guinea’s national goal to achieve 70% electricity access by 2030 and 100% by 2050, prioritizing renewable energy sources such as solar and hydro.

Ok Tedi, through its subsidiary Ok Tedi Power, will champion the deployment of DRE solutions to anchor communities, with feasibility studies underway in Western, West Sepik, and East Sepik Provinces. The program is designed to deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits, including improved quality of life, local enterprise development, reduced emissions, and enhanced energy independence.

This partnership underscores Ok Tedi’s commitment to responsible mining and energy transition, and NEA’s mandate to support inclusive, sustainable electrification for all Papua New Guineans.