Photo credit: Ronald Meketa LinkedIn Page
The National Energy Authority has been in the transition for the last two years and is set to be fully operational by 2025.
The NEA is planning to conduct its consultation workshop with intergovernmental agencies to guarantee they are fully functioning in three years, according to interim managing director Ronald Meketa.
He stated that the tiny power system and having the appropriate policies in place will now be the NEA's main priorities.
“We want to have PNG Power Ltd to be more focused on the main key grids that are a revenue-generating business for them, including Port Moresby, Highlands (Ramu Grid), and Gazelle in East New Britain,” he said.
“We already have the key draft policy in place.
“We should be running the consultative workshop with intergovernmental agencies to make sure we are operational in three years’ time.
“We want to open up the small power system in small centres so the free independent power producers investors who are interested can come in.
“We can open up the market for competition in that space and that will be embedded in some of the reviews we are doing.”
Given that more power system businesses are operating within the 10km zone, Mr. Maketa stated that they would also be looking at the definition of a 10km main grid from the off-grid location.
“We will look at how we can improve in that space and open up opportunities as there is a need to address the reliability issues that we have,” he said.
Mr. Maketa acknowledged that there is still more to be done to advance the industry.
“We should have the small power system regulation up and running by year-end, hopefully in the next energy session will have good answers for everyone,” he said.
Given the dire circumstances the nation is in, he said it is critical that various energy sources invest in infrastructure.
“We can have the independent power producers and allow competition in that space so that it gives ample time for PNG to look at its transformation strategies and to participate meaningfully in the transitional and to go into gas power,” he said.
Reference: Wohi, Lorraine. Post-Courier (22 September 2022). “National Energy Autority To Be Operational By 2025”.
