In a meeting with the Lae chamber of commerce and industry, Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil expressed that coal should be included in the energy mix of the country, adding gas, diesel, hydro, and other energy forms should also be part of this.
He said that among the challenges of investments coming to the country were the high costs of living. He said that this challenge needed to be addressed, especially the high cost of electricity - while acknowledging upcoming and existing investments within the chamber.
“At this stage, cheap, affordable power for manufacturing, downstream processing, increasing employment and ultimately industrialisation is crucial,” he said.
