Prime Minister, James Marape today launched a rural hydro power project in East New Britain’s Pomio District.

PNG Power Limited’s Warangoi project, which was rehabilitated at a cost of K83 million, will generate 10 Megawatt.

The Asian Development Bank and Government of PNG cofunded this investment.

GOV’T COMMITS TO HONOUR K5 MILLION FOR LANDOWNERS

Speaking during during the launch, PM Marape assured landowners the National Government would pay them K5 million.

He said this was to compensate them for the use of their land and water.

State Ministers, local leaders and senior government officials accompanied PM Marape.

“The power facility will boost up the low production of Warongoi hydropower facility. It has been undersupplying power to the Gazelle Grip for the last decade. It did not use it full potential of 10MW power generation,” he said.

PM Marape thanked local landowners for allowing electricity supply to serve the province for the last 39 years. They have never demanded  any form of compensation, he learned.

“Power generation from here has produced so many economic benefits for East New Britain,” he said.

“To the Sinivit and Baining people, your Government will not let you down (in the K5 million they asked for).”

He appealed to the landowners to organise themselves. He cited successes of their counterparts at Yonki in Eastern Highlands and Rouna in Central.

That is for common people to benefit from the funds, not just a few people.

He asked them to do this in preparation for the next phase of the project further up the Warangoi River.

This, he said, was part of the Pangu Pati’s flagship policy. The policy is to create “economic independence” for PNG Citizens.

PM Marape described ENB as “a very important part of our country.”

That is in the non-extractive industries such as agriculture, tourism, fisheries and sustainable forestry.

“All of this will depend on reliable power, reliable infrastructure and reliable Internet.”