PNG PM Marape tries to Claim False Credit For APEC PNG Electrification Partnership that has now Stalled : O"Neill
Papua New Guinea James Marape is attempting to claim credit for the monumental PNG Electrification Partnership (PEP) project that was negotiated during the APEC Summit in 2018.
Hon. Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP, the Leader of the People’s National Congress Party, said the PEP was very important outcome from APEC in Papua New Guinea, that had nothing to do with Marape who did not show any interest.
“The PNG Electrification Partnership was driven entirely by our Government and was signed at APEC, but has stalled over the past year as this government has done nothing to expand electrification throughout the country,” Mr. O’Neill said.
“Our APEC partners who signed the US$1.2 billion program have made a clear and honest commitment to deliver this electrification program that was intended to extend connection to electricity for 70 per cent of our people by the year 2030.
“The partners have hundreds of millions of Kina set aside right now to move the project along and connect rural and remote communities, and they have been doing what they can to get their initiatives moving, but have been let down by this government.
“That is why the four partners, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Japan, forced the government to meet with them to try to advance plans to get things moving.”
It has also become clear that the government has tried to pull a fast deal on PEP partners with James Marape telling them he does not support the development of off-grid power generation and distribution.
“To change the project away from off-grid power will mean that remote and rural communities, who are not located near existing power grids, will miss out on receiving electricity under the PEP.
“In making this demand, Marape is standing in the way of investment in sustainable electricity infrastructure for remote and rural communities, such as solar power, hydro- generation and geo-thermal power.”
There is wide speculation that the reason for Marape opposing off-grid facilities funded directly through the PEP, is so that he can outsource these contracts using PEP funds to pay his cronies and their connections with dubious power companies.
The failure to move the PEP forward over the past year has also meant that the Australian program is doing the right thing and is focusing their investment on off-grid projects, because they can’t work with this government because of corruption.
“Japan has been left waiting for the government to co-operate transparently. They are currently focused on the double circuit transmission line from Yonki to Lae that had been agreed between our Government and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the Ramu Grid Reinforcement that was agreed seen years ago.
“New Zealand has resorted to only funding existing programs and have now even had to find 100 per cent of the salary for the project Chief Financial Officer separately from their original support program.
“The commitment from the United States is also now only technical assistance until the government gets properly involved in the PEP.”
In an official News Release (27 May 2020), James Marape is now making outrageous promises that he will expand electrification to 70 per cent of the population by 2025.
“This 2025 promise is just another lie to try and create cruel false hope, because it is impossible to expand access to electricity from the current 13 per cent to 70 per cent of the population in just five years.
“That rate of expansion and infrastructure construction is simply unrealistic even for the most advanced countries in the world.
“Overall, there have been almost no new connections over the past year by PNG Power compared to nearly 20,000 in 2018.
“Due to ongoing and significant government interference on questionable new power stations, PPL has not been unable to even provide power reliably let alone make new connections.”
Reports from the meeting between James Marape and Electrification partners also reveal that he requested to change the PEP title as he said it was created by the O’Neill Government, so he wanted the name changed to something he invented, but they refused this petty request.
“Marape’s failure to advance the PNG Electrification Partnership project, his ridiculous demands on our partners and attempts to divert funding, is a disgrace and an embarrassment to our country.
“Our partners came to the table in Port Moresby during APEC with our shared goal of delivering electricity to our people who are most in need around the country, and they have been frustrated by the incompetence and corruption of this government.”
Photo(Left to right): Australian Prime Minister Scot Morrison, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Former PM Peter O'Neill, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and United States Vice President Mike Pense at the signing of the PNG Electrification Partnership, at the APEC Summit 18th of November 2018 in Port Moresby.
Statement by PNC Party
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Hon. Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP, the Leader of the People’s National Congress Party, said the PEP was very important outcome from APEC in Papua New Guinea, that had nothing to do with Marape who did not show any interest.
“The PNG Electrification Partnership was driven entirely by our Government and was signed at APEC, but has stalled over the past year as this government has done nothing to expand electrification throughout the country,” Mr. O’Neill said.
“Our APEC partners who signed the US$1.2 billion program have made a clear and honest commitment to deliver this electrification program that was intended to extend connection to electricity for 70 per cent of our people by the year 2030.
“The partners have hundreds of millions of Kina set aside right now to move the project along and connect rural and remote communities, and they have been doing what they can to get their initiatives moving, but have been let down by this government.
“That is why the four partners, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Japan, forced the government to meet with them to try to advance plans to get things moving.”
It has also become clear that the government has tried to pull a fast deal on PEP partners with James Marape telling them he does not support the development of off-grid power generation and distribution.
“To change the project away from off-grid power will mean that remote and rural communities, who are not located near existing power grids, will miss out on receiving electricity under the PEP.
“In making this demand, Marape is standing in the way of investment in sustainable electricity infrastructure for remote and rural communities, such as solar power, hydro- generation and geo-thermal power.”
There is wide speculation that the reason for Marape opposing off-grid facilities funded directly through the PEP, is so that he can outsource these contracts using PEP funds to pay his cronies and their connections with dubious power companies.
The failure to move the PEP forward over the past year has also meant that the Australian program is doing the right thing and is focusing their investment on off-grid projects, because they can’t work with this government because of corruption.
“Japan has been left waiting for the government to co-operate transparently. They are currently focused on the double circuit transmission line from Yonki to Lae that had been agreed between our Government and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the Ramu Grid Reinforcement that was agreed seen years ago.
“New Zealand has resorted to only funding existing programs and have now even had to find 100 per cent of the salary for the project Chief Financial Officer separately from their original support program.
“The commitment from the United States is also now only technical assistance until the government gets properly involved in the PEP.”
In an official News Release (27 May 2020), James Marape is now making outrageous promises that he will expand electrification to 70 per cent of the population by 2025.
“This 2025 promise is just another lie to try and create cruel false hope, because it is impossible to expand access to electricity from the current 13 per cent to 70 per cent of the population in just five years.
“That rate of expansion and infrastructure construction is simply unrealistic even for the most advanced countries in the world.
“Overall, there have been almost no new connections over the past year by PNG Power compared to nearly 20,000 in 2018.
“Due to ongoing and significant government interference on questionable new power stations, PPL has not been unable to even provide power reliably let alone make new connections.”
Reports from the meeting between James Marape and Electrification partners also reveal that he requested to change the PEP title as he said it was created by the O’Neill Government, so he wanted the name changed to something he invented, but they refused this petty request.
“Marape’s failure to advance the PNG Electrification Partnership project, his ridiculous demands on our partners and attempts to divert funding, is a disgrace and an embarrassment to our country.
“Our partners came to the table in Port Moresby during APEC with our shared goal of delivering electricity to our people who are most in need around the country, and they have been frustrated by the incompetence and corruption of this government.”
Photo(Left to right): Australian Prime Minister Scot Morrison, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Former PM Peter O'Neill, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and United States Vice President Mike Pense at the signing of the PNG Electrification Partnership, at the APEC Summit 18th of November 2018 in Port Moresby.
Statement by PNC Party
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