PNG Power is bleeding out due to daylight robbery

Papua New Guinea's Minister for State Enterprises, Richard Maru, is taking a firm stance against the pervasive power theft that is severely impacting PNG Power Limited (PPL). Maru stated his intention to address the issue directly with the CEO and Board of PPL, demanding strategies to identify and stop those responsible for bleeding the company's resources.

“

I am going to ask them for a cost reduction strategy. I want to know what they are doing to go and recover and identify the problems, identify those that are stealing because I am told that some big companies are also involved in stealing. I want to know their names. If they are foreigners, we should put them on a plane and send them home. Why are we hiding them, identify them and put them out, the country needs to know.

Maru specifically plans to instruct PPL to halt the employment of foreign staff or expatriates. He is seeking a cost-reduction strategy and wants to know what measures are being taken to recover losses and identify the culprits. "If they are foreigners, we should put them on a plane and send them home. Why are we hiding them, identify them and put them out, the country needs to know," Maru declared. He added that identified foreign power thieves would be charged and deported.

With an eight-month target to fix PNG Power, Maru warned those involved in "bleeding out PPL" that their days are numbered. He vowed to expose them as minister to put a stop to the long-standing theft. Maru emphasized the need to stop the "broad daylight robbery" by both foreign and local individuals and companies, calling for the issue to be addressed decisively.

“

I have 8 months to fix up PNG Power and I aim to do in these period so for those of you bleeding out PPL, your days are numbered, we will identify you and as Minister, I will expose you because we need to put a stop to this stealing that has been happening for ages.

The minister highlighted the severe consequences of this theft, including frequent blackouts that disrupt the private sector. Manufacturing companies are forced to invest in expensive diesel generators to maintain operations, placing a significant burden on the economy. Maru stressed that these thieves are responsible for the company's decline and that the public and private sector are paying a high price for their actions.

“

We must stop this broad daylight robbery because even our own people who are stealing. We have to put a stop to PNG Power from bleeding because of thieves and daylight robbery, and we must finish now. These are the people responsible for the demise of our company. We must call sin by the right name and deal with it. Because the public is paying a very high price. Our private sector is paying a high price, blackouts after blackouts. You imagine the big companies, the manufacturing companies are forced to buy diesel generators just to operate.