Electricity project extends into the rural areas

By Sonia Kenu

Bougainville leaders have applauded a K1.8 million initiative by PNG Power for a rural electrification scheme in the province.

Chairman of Tsitalato Council of Elders, Joseph Gatana, expressed his gratitude and said people are very fortunate because the project didn’t cost them anything.

He said the people will respond by not asking for any compensation from PNG Power for this project.

Mr Gatana said the project will change people’s lifestyle and cut down the cost of kerosene and petrol.

Also it will help mothers especially in the informal business sector, like selling iceblocks. “They can make iceblocks right in their homes instead of buying them in Buka town to selling them back in the village,” Mr Gatana said.

He assured people that other places will also get power.

“Power will be provided not only to wealthy people with permanent houses but also to the average Bougainvillean,” he said.

People must be prepared to connect power to their homes as well as to pay for the power supply.

Plans are already in place to extend the project to mainland Bougainville, specifically Arawa and Buin towns.

Sonia Kenu is a journalism student at Divine Word University

Comments

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[Explosion Proof String Lighting]

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[Paul]

This sounds very positive in the opening paragraph 'rural electrification scheme in the province'. The reader is lead to believe that the project is for the whole of Bougainville. However it quickly becomes clear in the reference to 'ice blocks' that it is not really for regional Bougainville, I mean places such as Tantareki and Piano, the bush inland from Arawa, Koromira and other regional locations. I am still trying to imagine mains power being connected to a bush-material home. Also, in my opinion 'mainland Bougainville' is the MAIN land, not Buka. This is a matter of 'big picture' view. Why is the news often Buka-Centric? Paul Ward, Australia.