Moitaka power station recommissioned

 PNG Power Limited (PPL) has announced the recommissioning of the Moitaka Power Station in Port Moresby.

The Moitaka Power Station was established in 1980 and has been a reliable source of electricity in Port Moresby for several decades until it was decommissioned in 2019 after several Independent Power Producers (IPP) were introduced into the Port Moresby Grid, PNG Power says in a statement.

Initially, the Moitaka Power Station had a station output of 16 Megawatts (MW) from two Hitachi Zosen Z40 Diesel Engines (Unit 1 & 2). 

Later, its capacity was increased by an additional 15 MW with the installation of a GE LM2500 (GT2) in 1990, and two Mirrlees Blackstone MK16KV Diesel Engines (Unit 3 & 4) were added with an individual capacity of 8 MW each.

The Moitaka units are high-inertia thermal engines with a significant rotational mass. 

This means that they can store energy and respond slowly to changes in demand, making them suitable for stabilising the grid.

 Their characteristics make them suitable for the Port Moresby grid application, where they can complement hydro generation.

 Although hydro generation is a renewable and flexible source of electricity, it depends on water availability and environmental factors. 

High-inertia thermal engines can provide backup power and grid stability, especially during peak hours or emergencies.

The decision to recommission the Moitaka Power Station was made after thoroughly analysing the Port Moresby grid's energy needs.

 Despite the decommissioning of the Moitaka Power Station in 2019 to focus on PNG Power's "Least Cost" and "Fuel Switch" plans, other energy sources could not regulate the grid. 

As a result, the PNG Power Board made the decision to recommission the station in the last quarter of 2022.

As of May 19, 2023, Moitaka Unit 3 is available, and it can be safely dispatched with 6MW of power. 

The recommissioning of the Moitaka Thermal Power Station will provide much-needed backup power and stability to the Port Moresby grid. 

PPL says it is committed to ensuring that the Port Moresby grid has sufficient backup power and stability when required. 

The recommissioning of the Moitaka Thermal Station is a significant step towards achieving this objective.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PPL Nehemaiah Naris, who was present to start up the first recommissioned unit has  thanked all the stakeholders who contributed to the successful recommissioning of the Moitaka Power Station, especially the hardworking PPL restoration team. 

The PPL says its restoration team will work hard to restore Unit 4 to bring additional capacity to the Port Moresby Grid in the coming months.

PPL is confident that the recommissioning of the Moitaka Thermal Station will improve power reliability in the Port Moresby Grid. 

It remains committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to the Port Moresby grid consumers.

US secretary of state to visit PNG on behalf of President Joe Biden

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Papua New Guinea on May 22 to meet with Pacific Islands Forum leaders on behalf of President Joe Biden.  

The US Embassy has released a statement.

It says the Secretary will also meet with PNG Prime Minister James Marape  and sign a bilateral defense cooperation agreement and a bilateral maritime security agreement.  

PNGDF personnel parade to farewell Minister for Defence Filepic

The meetings will be followed by a joint press availability with Secretary Blinken, Prime Minister Marape, and Pacific Islands Forum Chair Hon. Mark Brown. 

President Joe Biden was supposed to make a historical visit to PNG enroute to Australia but had to defer it due to budget issues in the United States.

The PNG Governor General Sir Bob Dadae has gazetted a public holiday and security preparations were well under control with limited air space movements expected during the visit.

Tisa Sevis Komisen i wari long planti sumatin insait long ol klasrum

 Ol wok manmeri bilong Tisa Sevis Komisen long Port Moresby i mekim wokabaut igo long ol skul na lukim sapos igat planti sumatin long ol klasrum.

Long bipo yet taim gavman i putim dispela fri skul polisi, planti pikinini i bin go long skul.

Planti papa mama na ol narapela manmeri i bin toktok strong long dispela olsem ino gat inap spes long skul.

Butuka Academy em wanpela skul long Pot Mosbi ol TSC manmeri i bin i go lukim 

Na tu planti sumatin tumas em wanpela tisa bai skelim ol na dispela bai givim planti wok long tisa.

I luk olsem nau tasol TSC I laik mekim wok painim aut long dispela.

Bikpela wari bilong TSC em olsem ol tisa ino ken kisim planti wok long wanem igat planti pikinini long wanpela klasrum.

Lo i tok wanpela tisa i mas skulim 45 pikinini tasol.

Ol i painim aut olsem long Pot Mosbi igat planti pikinini long skul na dispela bai givim wanpela wok long ol tisa na ino gutpela.

Ol i givim sampela tingting long ol skul iken wok wantaim gavman na kirapim  moa  klasrum na noken larim nating ol pikinini i  kam long narapela skul.

Wok bilong TSC em long was gut long welfe bilong ol tisa na ino long ol samting bilong skulim  ol sumatin.

High student to teacher ratio concerns Teaching Service Commission mindful about welfare of teachers

The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has embarked on an observation and recording mission concerning teacher to student ratios.

Despite reports and concerns raised by parents and public about overcrowding instigated by the government's free education policy program, the Teaching Service Commission needs further assessment.

A remote school at Sogeri, Central Province near a historical SDA Church base 

 They visited twelve schools in Port Moresby last week to observe teacher to student ratio in classrooms.

Their main aim is to ensure a teacher’s welfare is not compromised.

  TSC Provincial Advisor – NCD and team leader Paul Lapun explained to each school administration the purpose of their visit.   “School infrastructure and curriculum is not TSC business, our business is the welfare of your teacher,” Mr Lapun explained to each school principal.   Teacher ratio against a class size was assessed at the early childhood, elementary, primary and junior high levels.

The schools visited were Waigani Primary School, Boreboa Primary, Gerehu and Badiagwa Secondary, Kaugere and Butuka Academy.   “The notion of teacher-pupil ratio was stipulated in section 33 in Teaching Service Act 1998 that we have been and we are now implementing,” Lapun said.   TSC Advisors have observed overcrowding as a common issue in most of the schools visited, threatening the performance and welfare of teacher on a professional and personal level.   TSC officials have provided recommendation and expert advice to the school administrations. They should prioritize teacher’s welfare to encourage and maintain quality teaching in the classrooms.

  A few of these recommendations were toasses transfer-in students, monitor and report teachers who encourage students to enroll without the permission of the school board, discourage nepotism during enrolments, continue seeking assistance from government authorities who are responsible for education infrastructure development to cater for increase in student enrolments, report outside authorities who are suppressing teachers.   The indicators that TSC officers used to identify effects of the teacher to a student ratio included:

the number of students enrolled into each class,

how many subjects each teacher is taking

classroom space for students and teachers to move around,

staff ceiling and monthly returns from each of these schools visited.

  As the mandated employing agency for all teachers serving in public schools, the Teaching Service Commission is now checking the schools to verify and confirm the correct 1:45 ratio in classrooms and schools.   One out of the twelve schools that were visited has an excellent school infrastructure however other curriculum-related issues like shortage of textbooks remains a challenge.   Next week, the team will visit two more of the semi-urban schools in Port Moresby.  

UPNG Professor collaborates with world scientists to manufacture HIV medicine

This is a report by freelance journalist Cyril Gare.

The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) School of Natural and Physical Sciences (SNPS) is close to producing tablets from hopeaphenol, a chemical compound that was extracted from a PNG plant, that can be used as treatment for People Living With HIV AIDS (PLWH).  

This is good news for the world especially PLWH population in PNG as hopeaphenol comes as ‘God’s Salvation II’ for humanity. 

Last month the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) published the hopeaphenol research findings internationally effectively citing it as a leading candidate for treatment of Covid and AIDS viruses. 

Professor Topul Rali Univeristy of Papua New Guinea 

Hopeaphenol has been a joint collaboration been 17 scientists from around the globe including PNG’s very own Professor of Chemistry, Topul Rali since 1996 when he first collected and sent samples of the PNG plant – anisoptera thurifera to Griffith University in Australia for analysis and testing against targeted diseases in a drug discovery program. 

ASM acknowledged and gave credit to these 17 who operated out of: 

• The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; 

• Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada;

• Jonathan Lax Immune Disorders Treatment Center, Philadelphia Field Initiating Group for HIV-1 Trials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;

• Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; and

• School of Natural and Physical Sciences, The University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.  

Only a fortnight ago, UPNG Chemistry fourth year students during a lab practical under the strict supervision of Prof. Rali, extracted hopeaphenol from anisoptera thurifera leaves.

“From 400 grams of leaves, we were able to extract 1.933 grams of crystals. This is very exciting, an extraordinary find because you do not usually get this much compound from a single plant extract. 

“Also, we’ve not tried the bark and wood of this tree yet to determine which parts of the tree has high hopeaphenol content and also to evaluate the total amount of the compound in an Anisoptera thurifera tree,” Prof. Rali said adding that from the 1.933 grams of crystals, 39 tablets can be made for a PLWH patient, that’s more than a month’s dozes. 

He is optimistic about clinical trial on PLWH – to be orally administered alongside the current ART (antiretroviral treatment) so that further evaluations can be obtained from there. 

Already the SNPS has approved a budget of more than K300,000 for the purchase of two scientific equipment that will help produce hopeaphenol tablets at lab scale. The School’s request is before the UPNG Vice Chancellor, Prof. Frank Griffin for approval. 

In an interview with Alphonse Bariasi, features editor of The National newspaper on Tuesday – May 16, 2023 (see full report in Friday’s Weekend edition of The National), Prof. Rali agreed with the Prime Minister, James Marape that PNG can be the richest black nation however, without listening to scientists and putting the money down in research and scientifically driven projects such as this innovative hopeaphenol project, this dream would remain a far cry of any Government in the eve of the country’s 50th golden jubilee anniversary. 

Prof. Rali said under the National Research Agenda (NRA) the Government has created the Research, Science and Technology Secretariat (RSTS) since 2014 and its time the Government ‘walk the talk’ by turning the RSTS into a CSIRO equivalent by investing around a billion kina or more every year in R&D projects that would revolutionize the economy and spin the wheel of change.  

Bad road users cause unnecessary traffic jams

 Our roads in Port Moresby do have busy traffic in the morning and afternoon during peak hours.

Traffic does flow though.

What makes the drive quite long is the queue jumpers and those who are impatient, interchanging lanes as they wade through traffic.

Sometimes they unlawfully  drive on walk pavements for pedestrians putting pedestrians lives at risk too.

The main culprits are bus and taxi drivers. 

I have noted though few well dressed drivers in very clean and latest make vehicles  do the same too.

I should be forgiven for thinking they should be the well mannered road users but looks can be deceitful. 

There are buses advertisers are promoting their products on them.

Sadly it appears the advertisers are supporting road rage users causing traffic stress and nuisance.

One is the government's owned PNG Tourism Promotion Authority promotes tourism on the buses.

Well I hope PNGTPA had set terms and conditions for the bus drivers to comply, promote traffic rules and road safety- if not stop giving them money.

The advertisers can help educate drivers and promoting road safety rules by setting conditions on advertising.

Be safe on the road today, don't bully, respect other road users.

Police will not allow public demonstration against Justine Tkatchenko

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Silva Sika says police operations in the city will be on heightened alert from today Wednesday  onwards after  rumours of a planned protest march began circulating on social media.

Waigani Drive in Port Moresby this morning

Sika said police would not allow a public demonstration against Moresby South MP Justine Tkatchenko at the time when Pacific leaders were coming into the country for their summit.

Tkatchenko announced stepping aside from his role as Foreign Affairs Minister last Friday in Port Moresby. 

There were mounting pressure for him to resign coming from citizens politicians and various groups like the Catholic Professionals Association.

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi were also arriving at the end of this week and with Tkatchenko stepping aside, Prime Minister James Marape is assuming his role temporarily.

Billboard in Port Moresby welcoming India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and regional leaders

 Sika said any disturbances by a minority group in NCD would be a major embarrassment to the international community.

The Metropolitan Superintendent said they received a letter from a group calling themselves the Coalition of Concerned Citizens delivered to his office on Tuesday, requesting police to grant approval for the planned protest march.

 "The organisers of this event are using social media to persuade city residents to form up at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance Institute in Waigani tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said in a statement. 

 "They intend to walk from there to parliament house."

 He has declined the request  because the world's attention is now on PNG.

"We also took into consideration the social impact on the community, " Sika said.

"The business community may suffer losses, and children's education may be disrupted by this event."

He said  people aggrieved by comments made by Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko can take their grievances to court and seek redress or write and petition the government without a public assembly.

Last week several citizens protested along Waigani drive over discriminative comments by MP Justine Tkatchenko. 

Sika said police will continue to work closely with the communities in maintaining peace and good order across the city.