Minister for National Planning, Richard Maru, announced today (June 25) the Government is assisting PNG Power Limited (PPL) to connect electricity from Vanimo to Wutung in the West Sepik Province.
Minister Maru, who was in Vanimo recently, said it will be a historic arrangement and for the first time, PPL will consider buying power from Indonesia, which will be confirmed through a power purchase agreement.
The 42 kilometer project is estimated to cost around PGK5 million from which a PGK1.5 million has been released to purchase transmission lines.
The first phase of the project is to connect Vanimo to Lido Village and the Wutung Village to the Border and Customs facility.
The Government is appealing to landowners to be cooperative in this initiative of lighting up the West Coast of Vanimo for the first time since independence.
The project will start next week Monday.
