Scoop World, 27th June 2018
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 26, 2018—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and PNG Power Limited have begun consultations with business on expanding renewable energy sources in Papua New Guinea with a proposal for a pilot rooftop solar program in the capital, Port Moresby.
The move follows a request by PNG Power for IFC to build on its successful off-grid solar program, Lighting PNG, to help the power company’s business customers access a pilot program. The aim is to initially allow about two percent of peak demand for electricity in Port Moresby to be generated from rooftop solar.
“This move represents a significant change for Papua New Guinea, as to date, it has been illegal for businesses to install and generate power from rooftop solar,” said IFC’s Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea, John Vivian. “But now that the costs of rooftop solar systems have dropped by about 80 percent in the last five years, it makes commercial sense for business to look at this source of renewable energy and it is good for the environment.”