Papua New Guinea to Improve Power Supply

Papua New Guinea will draw up a detailed plan to improve power supply in the country where 90% of the population still has no electricity.

The Japan Special Fund, administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is providing a $1.2 million grant for Papua New Guinea to prepare a power sector development project design that will increase supply of reliable and sustainable power at reasonable cost. The government will contribute another $300,000 to the project.
At present, more than 90% of the population in Papua New Guinea (mostly people in rural areas) has no electricity. In urban centers, the power supply is often unreliable. The government’s Medium Term Development Strategy 2005-2010 recognizes energy and power as critical ingredients for development and poverty reduction.

The country is rich in renewable energy resources, with more than 15,000 megawatts of hydropower potential. Coconut-based bio-diesel, geothermal, wind, solar and marine resources are also viable options.

Solomon Times