STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES COORDINATE TO RESTORE SERVICE OUTAGES CAUSED BY EMERGING TROPICAL CYCLONE MAILA
PNG power and Water PNG employees working to restore, power and water supply. Picture supplied.
Engineers and crews from PNG Power and Water PNG are working together to restore services in East New Britain following extensive storm damage from Tropical Cyclone Maila, which is developing in the Solomon Sea.
Air Niugini is also working with the National Airports Corporation to restore services at airports affected by heavy rain and strong winds, while monitoring the development of the storm system. The CEOs of state-owned enterprises have confirmed, through their respective boards and to Kumul Consolidated Holdings, that restoration of essential services is underway.
Coordination with provincial administrations, police, and other government agencies is enabling a rapid response to storm activity and strengthening preparations for areas in the path of the weather system.
PNG Power Chief Technical Officer, Tony Koiri, said teams are on the ground working to reconnect affected communities.
“Despite the hazardous conditions, PPL staff are maintaining operations at critical sites such as the Warangoi Dam, while also repairing fallen lines and clearing storm debris. Safety remains our top priority, and we urge the public to stay away from fallen power lines and allow our crews to carry out their work.”
Koiri noted that some areas will experience prolonged outages due to damaged poles and lines, while restoration is progressing in locations where infrastructure can be repaired more quickly.
“Where power lines have been knocked down, there will be several days of interruption as new poles are installed once the weather improves. In areas where infrastructure can be restored more easily, electricity supply is already being reinstated. PNG Power crews are assessing the extent of damage and positioning additional resources in areas likely to be impacted in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, Water PNG Chief Executive Officer, James Young, confirmed that flooding at pumping facilities has caused shutdowns, which crews are currently addressing.
“The water supply in Rabaul and Kokopo has been interrupted due to damage at some facilities. The situation is worse in Rabaul, with only some areas in Kokopo affected. The interruption is expected to be brief, and as the storm clears, pumping facilities will be restarted within the next 24 hours.
“In the coming days, we must remain vigilant as the bad weather moves south, with greater impact expected in Alotau and along the coast to Port Moresby. Extreme storm activity can disrupt tap water supply as turbid water enters the system due to overflowing groundwater, and there is also a risk of pipe bursts.
“Water PNG crews are monitoring vulnerable areas and are on standby to respond to any disruptions. As a precaution, people are advised to store tap water in bottles or buckets in case of damage to the water network.”
Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Alan Milne, reassured the public that the airline continues to closely monitor Tropical Cyclone Maila and other weather systems that may impact its operations.
“Monitoring weather systems is an integral part of international airline operations, and Cyclone Maila is no exception,” said Milne.
“We had a temporary closure of Tokua Airport on Sunday; however, the National Airports Corporation worked quickly to restore operations. This demonstrates NAC’s strong disruption recovery capability.
“Our expert team will continue to monitor the storm system on an hourly basis and will advise the public of any impacts on flight operations.”
Additional updates will be provided by state-owned enterprises and Kumul Consolidated Holdings as more information becomes available.
