Replacement of old infrastructure and a more competent and committed workforce will turn PNG power around: Duma

A 211 million kina has been allocated and released to PNG Power Limited to replace its aging infrastructure.

State Owned Enterprises Minister William Duma told Parliament on Friday, 115 million kina has been spent ordering parts overseas and once foreign exchange issues are sorted - these parts will be sourced, and work started on repairing this aging infrastructure:

" You will realise that power to Port Moresby is fully energised, we have now power generating sources from Edevu, Dirio Niu Power and from our traditional sources at Sirinumu, so there is enough power now.

"What we need now is new infrastructure to replace the infrastructure like replacing the old transmitter lines, transformers and the connecting system together with new and more competent and committed people at PNG Power to help turn this company around", Minister Duma said.

The equipment ordered have been identified by five different experts engaged to assist PPL and the government on this.

Mr Duma says Papua New Guineans are their own worst enemy - as they don't get the job done and so outside expertise has to be sought:

" The days of appointing cronies and appointing wantoks to our SoE's are long gone now. As part of the ADB led reform program, we've found out the important aspect of recruitment to overseas based consultants who do not reside in this country, but they are offshore.

" So, anyone who wants to apply for those important posts of the Chairman and Directors and even CEO's of our companies have to apply by email to the recruitment companies and they go through a process".

The SoE Minister was responding to questions from West New Britain Provincial MP Sasindran Muthuvel.