THE EXISTENCE of the Tenkile Conversation Alliance (TCA) is West Sepik Province is proving to bring in additional basic services like access to solar power.
TCA, Executive Director Matthew Akon said locals are now coming out of darkness marking an improvement in living standards for villages scattered across the foothills of the Torricelli Mountain Range in West Sepik Province.
Through Australia’s Pawarim Komuniti Partnerships (PKP) program, it partnered with TCA and local communities to deliver the Kamapim Pawa project across Aitape/Lumi and Nuku districts.
As of this week, 146 villages in total now have access to solar power and a reliable power supply.
TCA said solar power is improving lives, strengthening communities, and helping protect some of Papua New Guinea’s most endangered wildlife.
“When solar power came here, the people were overjoyed,” said Mr. Akon.
Since 2021, the project has installed 8,005 home solar systems and 350 solar streetlights, providing clean, reliable electricity to more than 24,000 people.
Many of these remote villages can only be reached on foot across rugged terrain.
Located in the Lumi District of West Sepik province, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance is a NGO that focuses on protecting biodiversity in the Torricelli Mountain Range.The project focuses on villages that work alongside TCA to protect endangered species, including the Tenkile and Weimang tree kangaroos.
By providing households with solar lighting, communities no longer need to rely on burning bush materials for light.
This reduces pressure on surrounding forests, helping conserve critical habitat while improving daily life for local families.
The impact has been significant.
All households that received solar systems have permanently switched from their previous lighting sources, providing safer, cleaner, and more reliable light after dark.
While solar energy has transformed 146 of TCA’s partner villages, the other 43 communities that still lack access to solar power were included in a second solar project with help from the United Kingdom.
UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and PKP are now implementing a final ‘last mile’ phase of the project.
This phase will deliver an additional 1,500 home solar systems and 100 solar streetlights, ensuring more families benefit from reliable electricity.
As part of Australia and the UK’s commitment to locally-led development, the project has trained local Solar Champions to install and maintain the systems. By building technical skills within communities, the project supports long-term sustainability and local ownership.
