PNG Power has responded to claims by Lae MP, Loujaya Kouza, that the electricity company is partly responsible for the recent fires in Lae City.
PNG Power’s Chief Executive, John Tangit, said the Lae MP doesn’t have any evidence to prove that PNG Power’s ongoing blackouts caused the fires.
In a statement, Tangit said in all three cases, PNG Power responded within 5 minutes to cut power to the buildings.
PNG Power has also carried out its own investigations into the fires. The company says the possible causes are that there were additional installations that didn’t have PNG Power approval; that there were natural causes to the fire including tremors and movement of heavy equipment as well as a buildup of dust on electrical wiring.
In recent months, PNG Power has also come under fire for the blackouts in Lae City. The company says new improvements to power generation infrastructure will eventually put an end to the blackout.
Meanwhile, people are continuing to loot the burnt Pelgens warehouse which was destroyed over last weekend.
The third fire in a space of four weeks, has also prompted the Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, to call for an injection of funds to improve the fire service.
