By Staycey Yalo, EMTV News
The National Government has allocated K3.5 million to PNG Power to put up a transmission line from Popondetta to Girua.
This is to complement the K45 million investment by the National Airports Corporation in upgrading the Girua Airport in Northern Province.
The project comes under the Government’s Rural Electrification Project that is being implemented by PNG Power and monitored by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring is also expected to give rise to SME opportunities for the people.
The National Government, through the Ministry of National Planning and Monitoring, presented a cheque of K3.5 million to PNG power today to complete the 15 Kilometer construction of the power line from Popondetta to Girua Airport.
Minister for National Planning, Richard Maru, said it has been a long wait for the people of Ijivitari District to have access to power, and it is timely that the O’Neill-Abel government stepped in as it is part of the government’s plan to have 70% of every household in the country to have access to power by 2030.
Maru said with this service, the 2000 people living between Popondetta and Girua will now have to take advantage of the service by venturing into SME’s to improve their quality of life.
While challenging PNG power to deliver the project on time, Maru also encouraged PNG to look at cost efficient ways to supply power to its customers as many businesses spend too much on power as a running cost.
