21 Feb 2009

ADB assists PNG with power development plan

11:25 am on 21 February 2009

Papua New Guinea's government is working with the Asian Development Bank on a plan to provide electricity to more parts of the country.

The Post Courier reports that the plan was the focus of a consultation workshop held in Port Moresby this week.

The Secretary for Petroleum and Energy, Randle Rimua, is reported as saying the workshop covered key elements of the plan to increase the supply of reliable and sustainable power at a reasonable cost.

Managing PNG's renewable energy resources - hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar power - was also discussed.

The paper says representatives of the government, civil society, donor partners and the private sector attended the workshop.

An energy specialist with the ADB is quoted as saying more than 90 percent of PNG's population is without electricity.

And Anthony Maxwell says the power sector development plan aims to deliver more reliable, low-cost power services to both urban and rural areas of the country.