ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea unit, the operator of the PNG LNG project, signed a deal with PNG Power to undertake a joint feasibility study in 2019 to assess the potential of providing power to the Hela province.
The two entities have signed a memorandum of understanding to commence a study of the cost and technical specifications required to transmit electricity generated at Hides gas conditioning plant (HGCP) to the local community through PNG Power.
ExxonMobil PNG, as operator of PNG LNG will look at delivering up to 5 MW of power from the HGCP to a grid owned and managed by PNG Power in the Hela Province.
“PNG Power has ambitious goals to switch from high cost, dirty fuels to lower cost, cleaner energy sources,” said PNG Power managing director Carolyn Blacklock.
The power production deal follows ExxonMobil’s commitment to establish a public-private partnership with the aim of advancing commercial agriculture in the Hela Province of Papua New Guinea.
The proposed venture is led by Innovative Agro Industry in partnership with the PNG LNG Project, co-venture partner MRDC, the Hela Provincial Government and Tari-Pori, Koroba-Kopiago and Komo Margarima local level governments.