UPPER BUANG WARDS STILL AWAITS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

By BRADLEY MARIORI

VILLAGES and several hamlets across five ward areas of Upper Buang are still waiting for electricity connection and supply as it is now almost six months since electricity supply was restored into the communities in the Buang local government area of Bulolo District.

This delay has prompted local small business operators to call on local MP Sam Basil Jr to speed up the roll out.

Local hotworks services provider Romio Onzeu from Ward 4 said electricity was out for a year and several months before the Bulolo Development authority, through the Bulolo District Rural Electrification Project, started lighting up communities six months ago.

“We are happy that electricity supply has been restored but in upper Buang we are still waiting to be lit up and it is frustrating as we have our small businesses to run and electricity supply is becoming a set back for us,” Mr Onzeu said.

He added there are also other government institutions in the upper Buang area that need electricity supply.

“There are schools and health facilities as well as churches that need electricity supply for their operations and we need electricity supply to be restored as soon as practical,” Mr Onzeu said.

Local Bulolo MP Sam Basil Jr said there are some issues with the integrity of the enabling infrastructures like poles and service lines.

“We are working closely with PNG Power to ensure that all enabling infrastructures are safe before electricity supply is restored,” Mr Basil said.

Mr Basil said officers from PNG Power were on the ground and will be conducting inspections on the state and integrity of the enabling infrastructures mid year.