The Edevu Hydropower project in the Hiri Koiari District of Central Province was officially launched by Prime Minister James Marape Last Friday.

The Edevu Hydro Power project is located at the head waters of Brown River, and apart from Rauna in Sogeri, this is the second hydro power project in central province, and both in the same district.

There with the Prime Minister was Central Governor Rufina Peter, Hiri Koiari MP Keith Iduhu, including State Ministers, Landowners and stake holders.

The commissioning of the reservoir impoundment signifies an important milestone for the project.

This means, the dams will now be filled with water, for power generation and distribution.

Initial negotiations on the project began in 2009, and it has taken over 14 years to get to this stage.

The hydro power project is expected to produce over 54 megawatts of power, which will cater for NCD and Central province, including parts of Gulf and Milne Bay provinces.

It is a private investment between the Koiari Land Owners and Chinese Investor, PNG Hydro Development Limited, built at a cost of over K650 million kina.

According to Prime Minister James Marape, the PNG government is supporting the project, by way of K120 million for transmission lines from Edevu to Port Moresby which is already under construction.

“We are a nation in pursuit of development in the power sector, we want 70 percent of our country – by 2030 – to have accessibility to cheap, reliable and green energy to our country” PM Marape said.

Speaking on the occasion Central Province Governor Rufina Peter, welcomed the project and raised concerns on equal land owner participation.

She said over the years land owners of Sirinumu dam in Sogeri, have not been compensated well, and land owners of Edevu must be better captured and considered in benefit sharing agreements.

“We must not ignore the land owners and the provincial government in participating in critical activities, including benefit sharing,” the governor said.

State Enterprise Minister William Duma further assured the people that the government has given directions for better benefit sharing packages for land owners at Sirinumu.

He said the government will continue to work together with investors and land owners to ensure there are opportunities for all to participate.