MORE than 66,000 people in remote parts of Papua New Guinea will soon gain access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity through two new projects, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
Australia’s PGK12.8 million (AUD4.7 million) investment in Papua New Guinea is part of three new projects announced by Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, at Pre-COP31 in Fiji. The third project will bring solar power and internet to 13 remote schools in Fiji.
In Oro Province, Sola PayGo and MiBank will bring pay-as-you-go solar home systems, streetlights and education servers to 19 communities between Popondetta and the Kokoda Track, benefiting around 55,000 people. Families will also receive training in technical, financial and digital literacy.
In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Save the Children will work with the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Education to install solar and battery systems at five remote schools in Tinputz, powering classrooms and teachers’ housing. A school-managed solar lantern scheme will bring safer lighting to up to 2,000 nearby homes, reaching more than 11,400 people.
Ms Dorothy Kenneth, Secretary of the ABG’s Department of Education, said these projects will make a difference.
“A consistent source of clean, green and sustainable power supply for proper lighting for night studies, safety, security and communication will certainly make a difference in our teachers’ and students’ teaching and learning,” Ms Kenneth said.