By SEPKOLIN WALNE
The Opposition has united to raise alarm over a water supply crisis threatening Port Moresby and its surrounding peri-urban communities.
Opposition leaders cited a circular issued by the Department of National Planning and Monitoring on 29 May 2026, which acknowledged that critical raw water conveyance infrastructure feeding the Mt Eriama Water Treatment Plant has deteriorated to the point of imminent catastrophic failure. The department has already sought assistance from international and development partners.
Opposition Leader and Member for Chuave, Hon James Nomane, accused PNG Water Limited of complete leadership failure. “PNG Water Limited’s infrastructure was not sabotaged. It was not flooded. It was simply never maintained—no preventive investment, no renewal budget, no planning. Just corrosion and now a crisis,” Nomane said. He added that the International Water Association requires utilities to allocate 1.5–2.5 per cent of total asset replacement value annually to preventive maintenance, a standard PNG Water Limited has failed to meet.
Deputy Opposition Leader and Member for Hiri-Koiari, Hon Keith Iduhu, described the government’s appeal for international funding as “embarrassing”.
“The fact that a national department of planning comes out cap in hand asking for money is humiliating. This government is disorganized, out of its depth, with no foresight and no empathy for our people’s health,” Iduhu said.
He further questioned why the government is begging for funds while the country has received over K700 million from the IMF, adding to what he called “a K4.4 billion economic black hole for our children to pay into the future”.
“This is a complete and utterly irresponsible show of leadership—or the lack thereof,” Iduhu added.
In response, Water PNG Limited CEO James Young confirmed that preparatory work is underway to repair the most critically damaged section of the pipeline.
He assured the public that while rationing will be necessary, there will not be a total shutdown. “Measures will be in place to continue raw water flow into the Mt Eriama Water Treatment Plant through the Rouna 4 pipeline, which will then follow the normal network into the city,” Young said.
He explained that Port Moresby currently consumes around 180 million liters of water per day. During repairs, supply could drop to about 80 million liters per day in the worst-case scenario. However, interconnections and alternative options are being developed to boost supply during the repair period.
“No dates have been set for repairs yet, but preparations are underway to minimize the duration of the partial shutdown,” Young added.