The number and frequency of power blackouts in PNG is unbelievable.
When I 1st moved to Lae back in early 2005 it became obvious right from the start that power outages, at UNITECH and anywhere else in PNG for that matter, are a simple fact of life. One learns to stock up on plenty of candles and those that can afford it have a backup generator or chargeable type lighting.
Right now I am writing this post from my laptop at home next to a candle. Today alone, I think Goroka has been hit with at least half a dozen power blackouts. When we first moved to Goroka it was a relief to find out that the power situation was 100% more reliable than our time in Lae. Blackouts in Lae are a daily occurrence - to bad if one has a business that relies on power to keep merchandise and fresh foods - in these cases generators are a must naturally adding to the overall running costs.
For me these blackouts are a mere inconvenience. But I am once again amazed at the high level of tolerance that Papua New Guineans have when it comes to putting up with poor service delivery, not only with power supply but with other entities, whether government, semi-government or private.
So… I’m still here working on this post in semi darkness and it both saddens and angers me to see the lack of interest, effort and investment that Papua New Guinea as country, puts in to maintaining its own infrastructure. With an economy that local politicians describe as healthy and booming but at the same time an inability to budget or plan for simple maintenance and up keep of what was probably built with the money given by a generous donor.
There appears to be an attitude amongst national decision makers that projects that will result in considerable benefit to the locals can only be done with bucks sourced from elsewhere. Why is it that the Papua New Guinea Government is next to incapable of maintaining its own assets in working order?
The current situation of poor power supply and regular blackouts is due to a situation at Yonki Power Station - the main power station for Lae, the Highlands Region and also Madang. As it happens the megawatts that Yonki is capable of producing is way below the needs of the current customer base.
Yet… a deal has just been signed to build additional capacity at Yonki to supply power to the Ramu Nickel project. It would appear to me that it has now become a higher priority for the PNG Government to look after the interests of investors than meeting the basic needs of its own people.
As I have said before…
There was a time the chiefs could be trusted but that time has long since past.
No power for the past 36 hours… As reported in today’s National newspaper…
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PNG National Health Conference 2008 The PNG National Health Conference for 2008 was held this week in Port Moresby and I am led to believe that the theme for this years conference is: “Human Resource”…
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A bit on PNG…. Papua New Guinea
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PNG and power blackouts
The number and frequency of power blackouts in PNG is unbelievable.
When I 1st moved to Lae back in early 2005 it became obvious right from the start that power outages, at UNITECH and anywhere else in PNG for that matter, are a simple fact of life. One learns to stock up on plenty of candles and those that can afford it have a backup generator or chargeable type lighting.
Right now I am writing this post from my laptop at home next to a candle. Today alone, I think Goroka has been hit with at least half a dozen power blackouts. When we first moved to Goroka it was a relief to find out that the power situation was 100% more reliable than our time in Lae. Blackouts in Lae are a daily occurrence - to bad if one has a business that relies on power to keep merchandise and fresh foods - in these cases generators are a must naturally adding to the overall running costs.
For me these blackouts are a mere inconvenience. But I am once again amazed at the high level of tolerance that Papua New Guineans have when it comes to putting up with poor service delivery, not only with power supply but with other entities, whether government, semi-government or private.
So… I’m still here working on this post in semi darkness and it both saddens and angers me to see the lack of interest, effort and investment that Papua New Guinea as country, puts in to maintaining its own infrastructure. With an economy that local politicians describe as healthy and booming but at the same time an inability to budget or plan for simple maintenance and up keep of what was probably built with the money given by a generous donor.
There appears to be an attitude amongst national decision makers that projects that will result in considerable benefit to the locals can only be done with bucks sourced from elsewhere. Why is it that the Papua New Guinea Government is next to incapable of maintaining its own assets in working order?
The current situation of poor power supply and regular blackouts is due to a situation at Yonki Power Station - the main power station for Lae, the Highlands Region and also Madang. As it happens the megawatts that Yonki is capable of producing is way below the needs of the current customer base.
Yet… a deal has just been signed to build additional capacity at Yonki to supply power to the Ramu Nickel project. It would appear to me that it has now become a higher priority for the PNG Government to look after the interests of investors than meeting the basic needs of its own people.
As I have said before…
There was a time the chiefs could be trusted but that time has long since past.