Edevu unable to fully meet city’s power demand during El Niño

The Edevu Hydropower project is unable to fully support Port Moresby's electricity demand during the current El Niño period, as prolonged dry conditions continue to reduce hydro generation and place pressure on both power and water supplies.

The dry weather has significantly lowered water levels at Sirinumu Dam, affecting hydro generation capacity and water supply to the nation's capital.

Launched in 2023, the multi-million kina Edevu Hydropower project was designed to address long-term investment decline in Port Moresby's energy grid and provide more reliable electricity to the National Capital District, Central and Gulf provinces by reducing supply challenges and blackouts.

However, following growing public concern, Water PNG Chief Executive Officer James Young told NBC News that while Edevu is located about 50 kilometres from Port Moresby, there are no pipelines or supporting infrastructure connecting the project to Water PNG's operations.

PNG Power Limited Chief Executive Officer Paul Bayly also clarified that although the hydropower station is operational, it currently supplies only 50 megawatts to the Port Moresby electricity grid.

Mr Bayly said Edevu is smaller than the Rouna hydropower and that its two turbines cannot be fully utilised to generate power at this time.

To maintain electricity supply, PNG Power is supplementing the reduced hydro generation with diesel-powered thermal generation at Moitaka Power Station to help stabilise the grid and minimise the number of feeders placed on load shedding.

With 10 provinces, including the National Capital District, now on drought alert, Mr Bayly is urging the public to use electricity responsibly as the country continues to experience the impacts of El Niño.