Photo credit: MRDC
Dirio Gas and Power’s next project will be to supply 66 megawatts gas fired power station gas for the Ramu Grid.
Speaking at the PNG Energy Summit in Port Moresby, Mineral Resource Development Company (MRDC) Chief Operating Officer John Tuaim said Dirio is currently providing a 45 megawatts (MW) gas-fired power station for the Port Moresby grid, and construction on the following project is anticipated to start in early 2023 for the Ramu Grid.
The first Dirio project outside of Port Moresby, according to Mr. Tuaim, is already powering the city. They are now looking at the second project, which will be up in Hela Province and deliver 66 MW while also connecting to the Ramu Grid and servicing Southern Highlands Province.
“Dirio will be using the same technology and same landowner groups for the first project in the next project up in Hela and we have already signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with PNG Power Limited,” he said.
“We will also utilise the same strategic staff and local companies to do the next project as well. Once it is done it will provide a cheaper cost of generation power for PNG Power as well.”
He stated that Dirio is anticipating a long-term solution for PNG to offer 283MW gas-fueled generation to 12 places around the nation following the project up in Hela, which would bring the advantage of PNG's gas deposits to the entire country.
According to Mr. Tuaim, construction on that project is scheduled to begin in 2023 since the National Executive Council (NEC) has already given its approval and because a PPA with PNG Power Limited at 50% of current costs is still waiting.
Reference: Kamus, Maxine. Post-Courier (21 September 2022). “Dirio’s Next Project”.
