Friday 3 May 2013

$66.7m for energy supply in Papua New Guinea

More households in Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon have access to electricity, thanks to loans worth $66.7 million (£43m).

The country signed two loans with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which will help boost electricity access rates in Port Moresby to 74% and extend the city’s power grid to around 3,000 low-income homes.

Xianbin Yao, Director General of ADB’s Pacific Department said: “This project will connect currently un-served households to reliable, good quality electricity for the first time. Improved power supply in the target areas will enhance quality of life and encourage low-income families to engage in small-scale income generation activities.”

The cash will also help increase and improve the use of hydropower by upgrading and rehabilitating two plants currently generating electricity for Port Moresby and assist power grid operator PNG Power Limited (PPL) in expanding renewable energy generation.