DAILY power outages lasting between four and eight hours are threatening Papua New Guinea’s food supply, the Farmers and Settlers Association has warned.
In a letter dated October 4, 2026, to PNG Power chief executive officer, Association president Wilson Thompson said the unscheduled blackouts had continued for weeks, extending into the evenings and nights.
Thompson said the constant outages were causing frozen stock, poultry and fresh produce to spoil, while agricultural and factory machinery remained idle, disrupting production. Families were also unable to cook, and children struggled to study at night without electricity.
The Association said the outages were affecting exporters, processors, plantations and growers supplying markets nationwide, as well as smallholders, market vendors and SMEs that rely on electricity to preserve and sell food.
According to the letter, the power instability has also affected government offices and essential services, with reports of EFTPOS systems, fuel pumps, water pumps and milling operations failing during outages. Some businesses are now forced to run diesel generators and install solar backup just to keep food from spoiling, which is adding extra
cost to food production at a time when supply is already declining.
The letter acknowledged the historical role of the former PNG Electricity Commission in building hydropower and diesel standby systems, but said the future of commercial agriculture and downstream processing relies on stable power and continued investment in infrastructure by the PNG Power.
The Association has called on the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC), National Energy Authority, and the Ministers for State Enterprises, Energy and International Trade to intervene to stabilize supply.
The Association has given PNG Power Limited 14 days to respond with a written explanation for the cause of the blackouts, a clear mitigation plan for the coming weeks and months, clarity on compensation for verified business losses and a published load-shedding timetable by suburb, district and province so farmers, processors and families can plan their work.
PNG Power has been contacted for comment with the Association now awaiting a response from the PNG Power Limited within 14 days.