Papua New Guinea: Load shedding to continue in the National Capital District April 27

Event

PNG Power has announced another day of load shedding in the National Capital District April 27. The outages will rotate hourly and affect the Bomana, Boroko, Kanudi, Kone, and Waigani areas through 16:00. Load shedding will take place at the following times:

• 11:00-12:00: Parts of Boroko and Kone

• 12:00-13:00: Sections of Kone and Kanudi

• 13:00-14:00: Areas in Boroko and Kone

• 14:00-15:00: Portions of Boroko and Bomana

• 15:00-16:00: Locations in Waigani and Kone

The utility company has warned that outages could occur in these locations for longer than planned and that outage times could change throughout the day.

Load shedding could impact business operations in affected locations; companies without backup generators may suspend operations. Blackouts could also cause certain essential facilities, such as ATMs and fueling stations, to stop functioning temporarily. The outages could also impact mobile voice and data services. Traffic disruptions are possible due to malfunctioning traffic signals.

Context

Load shedding has been occurring daily in Port Moresby. Population growth in National Capital District has increased electricity demand faster than improvements to power generation and the grid. Utility officials say they are working to procure materials to improve power outages in the city; however, additional disruptions are likely.

Advice

Charge mobile and essential electrical devices when possible and ensure backup batteries are available. Plan for ground transport delays due to possible malfunctioning or nonfunctional traffic lights in affected areas. Exercise caution when driving in recently impacted areas. Park vehicles in secure areas. Confirm business appointments. Verify that security systems are working. Ensure that generators are functional and refuel devices where necessary.