Ramu System Power Supply
PRESS STATEMENT
PNG Power Ltd would like to clarify that the power outage in Lae, Madang and the Highlands Region was a planned outage undertaken to reconnect a generation set at the Ramu Hydro Power Station (HPS) that was undergoing rehabilitation work with our contractor, Andritz Hydro of Austria.
The rehabilitation work is an ongoing project for the Ramu HPS to increase the current capacity from 45MW – 60MW.
The team after the planned work could not restore power supply according to its 4.00pm restoration time on Sunday afternoon due to technical issues related to starting up of the hydro turbine units.
In unfortunate circumstances, Lae experienced a prolonged power outage due to the fuel supplier not delivering fuel for the Lae Gas Turbine as planned to ensure availability for Lae city’s power load during the planned outage for the Ramu System. This greatly contributed to the long outage experienced in Lae. Other centres were also affected due to generation shortages.
As of yesterday afternoon, power supply to the Highlands, Madang and Lae were fully restored.
PPL is currently undertaking major power projects in partnership with stakeholders and donor agencies to improve power supply capacity and minimize power issues in the country. To meet system growth and improve reliability, PPL has committed to several new generation projects in the system in partnership with various private entities.
Major new transmission lines and sub-station projects are also in the early stages of implementation. These projects are in line with the Government’s Medium Term Development Plan which requires PNG Power to provide electricity supply to 70 percent of the households by 2030.
RAMU 1 REHABILITATION PROJECT
This project is aimed at increasing the current capacity of the Ramu Hydropower Station from 45MW to 60MW. This output increase and improved reliability is essential to cater for the load and network growth in the Ramu System. This project is expected to be completed at the end of 2017.
MUNUM POWER STATION
Independent Power Producer (IPP), Posco Daewoo is constructing a new 30 MW Thermal Power Station to run on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) at Munum, between Lae City and Nadzab Airport. The plant will cater for three-quarters of power supply to Lae in the event that there are problems on the Ramu Transmission or Generation systems. Commissioning of the power station will start next week and the power station is expected to be available for commercial operation later in June 2017.
MADANG POWER STATION
PPL is currently leasing 5 MW of generation from Aggreko / LCS and Madang will have 5MW capacity with the installation of two new 2.5 MW generation units which is nearing completion. The new units will be commissioned in late June. When completed, Madang will have sufficient generation during periods the transmission line or the Ramu hydro generation is unavailable.
DOBEL POWER STATION – MT HAGEN
PPL is commissioning a lease 4 MW standby power station at Dobel, in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province tomorrow (Wednesday May 31, 2017). This will be upgraded to 10 MW’s to cater for the refurbishment of the Pauanda Hydro Power Station and the transmission line clearance and rehabilitation works.
PAUNDA HYDRO POWER STATION UNIT 2 RESTORATION
The Pauanda Mini-Hydro in the Western Highlands Province was limited to supply 6 MW in 2016 due to the failure of unit 2. Repair works is nearing completion and the unit is expected to be available by August 2017. This will improve availability and reliability of power supply. The Pauanda Hydro Scheme in the Western Highlands Province was developed to supply electricity down the line to Ramu for power supply stability.
HELA / SOUTHERN IPP
Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces will benefit from the twenty-five (25) years Highlands Gas Project that PPL signed with Oil Search Ltd (OSL). The project is expected to produce an initial 2MW of power supply which will then be ramped up to 5MW and up to 64 MW by 2030.
TARI – MT HAGEN 132 kV TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT
A loan agreement is in place between the National Government (GoPNG) and the Exim Bank of China to construct a 132kV transmission line from Tari to Mt Hagen. Land mobilization is already in place for four new sub-stations in Mt Hagen, Pauanda, Mendi and Tari. When completed, the Highlands IPP will connect into the existing Ramu Grid system.
BUKA POWER SUPPLY
Buka will benefit from the construction of the 3MW Ramazon Hydro Power Station which is one of the ADB funded projects. The project is under the Town Electrification Investment Program. The evaluation of the tenders is complete and is in the process of awarding the contract. The run-of-the-river hydro power station will be constructed at the Ramazon River. Buka will also be benefiting from the twelve (12) new generators that PPL is purchasing for its smaller centres. This will in the long term address power capacity for Buka.
PNG Power Ltd assures the general public that it is making every effort together with the National Government to continue to improve the generation, transmission and distribution systems it is operating in the country.
Alex Oa, Acting Chief Executive Officer, PNG Power Ltd
