Namatanai District in New Ireland today received an electricity license from the National Energy Authority to generate, transmit, distribute and sell power in the district and entire province.
Namatanai town buzzed with excitement as Petroleum and Energy Minister, Thomas Opa handed over the license to the local MP, Walter Schnaubelt. Schnaubelt is also the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation.
The Namatanai District Development Authority (NDDA) has demonstrated strong commitment to the power project by allocating K3.5 million as initial funding for the project to commence immediately.
This momentous occasion, marking a new era for a town long plagued by electricity challenges, was graced by the presence of Managing Director for the National Energy Authority, Ronald Meketa and the Opposition’s Wau-Wari MP, Marsh Narewec.
The recently approved license by the NEC has been granted to NAL Energies Limited (NEL), a business arm of Namatanai DDA and fully owned by the people of Namatanai through their 6 LLGs and 96 council wards.
NEL is set to generate and supply power to the public at competitive rates akin to PNG Power Ltd.
Namatanai is privileged to be the first district among the 89 districts in the country to be granted a license to produce and sell electricity. This milestone will benefit not only Namatanai and New Ireland Province but potentially the entire country.
Minister Schnaubelt, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Marape government and fellow Minister Opa, highlighted the transformative opportunities this license brings for the people of Namatanai, enabling them to enhance their livelihoods through reliable electricity.
He added that the district would utilize a diverse range of power sources to ensure efficiency and sustainability in the electricity supply, enabling the extension of services to as many parts of the district as possible.