Prime Minister James Marape has apologized to the people of Western Highlands and Governor Hon. Wai Rapa for missing today’s commissioning of the Highlands 132kV Transmission Line in Mt Hagen due to unavoidable travel issues.
The Prime Minister had been scheduled to commission the project at the Keltiga Substation in Mt Hagen, with the ceremony hosted by PNG Power Limited, Kumul Consolidated Holdings and the Ministry for State Enterprises.
Mr. Marape said he regretted not being able to attend the milestone event and looks forward to visiting Western Highlands at another time.
He congratulated State Enterprises Minister Hon. William Duma for his leadership in delivering the project, describing the Highlands 132kV Transmission Line as a major national infrastructure achievement.
The new transmission system upgrades the historic 66kV network to a modern 132kV high-voltage backbone capable of carrying larger volumes of electricity across the Highlands region.
The transmission corridor stretches about 189 kilometres from Mt Hagen to Tari and is supported by around 448 towers. It includes upgraded substations at Keltiga, Kaupena/Pauanda, Mendi (Tindimi) and Tari (Wabia), as well as a 40-kilometre extension from Tari to Hides.
The project allows gas-powered electricity generation from the Hides area to be integrated into the Highlands electricity grid.
The investment in the Highlands grid backbone exceeds K1 billion, supported by concessional financing from the Export–Import Bank of China and funding from the Government of Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister Marape said the transmission line will benefit communities and businesses across the Highlands and Momase regions, linking power generation from Hides through the Highlands to Yonki and on to Lae.
He said the corridor serves major population centres across the Highlands and could benefit close to five million people.
The next phase will focus on expanding distribution networks to ensure electricity reaches homes, schools, health facilities and businesses along the corridor.
Mr. Marape said the government aims to increase electricity access to between 50 and 60 percent of the population as more distribution lines are developed across the Highlands.
The Highlands grid upgrade is part of a broader national effort to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s electricity generation and transmission network and move towards a more unified national power grid.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged development partners, landowners, provincial governments and contractor TBEA for their role in delivering the project.
