Bougainville Power Company to be established
Plans are now underway to have a Bougainville Power Company to take over from state-owned enterprise, PNG Power by 2025.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and PNG Power today in Port Moresby.
The MoU now establishes the Bougainville Energy Development Steering Committee which will facilitate this transfer of powers and jointly explore development of potential energy resources and make available generation capacity to provide reliable electricity services to the people Bougainville.
Acting Chief Secretary for the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Shadrach Himata says the partnership between both parties is a positive step built on shared understanding and responsibility to ensure the rural majority have access to electricity powered by both non-renewable and renewable energy.
“Electricity is a key enabler in driving the regional economic growth centres identified in North, Central, South Bougainville and the Atolls District,” he said.
“The Bougainville Administration is committed to ensure gradual transfer of electricity powers and functions to the planned Bougainville Power Company by 2025.”
Managing Director of PNG Power, Flagon Bekker in his remarks, said that PNG Power Limited has always played a central role in the economy and society of Bougainville.
“In 2019, the vast majority of people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville voted for independence. By doing this, they also voted for ownership and control over their electrical power generation, transmission and distribution assets,” he said.
“PNG Power is committed to partnering with the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in making this transition to full ownership in a measured and controlled manner.”
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