Papua New Guinea’s Ambitious Plans for Electricity Access

Electricity access in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the lowest rates in the world: although estimates vary, a UNDP report has estimated that between 8 and 15% have access to the electricity grid.

To close the gap, the government set a target to expand access to 70 percent of the population by 2030 as part of the Development Strategic Plan in 2010.

While readily increasing access to electricity is an admirable goal for the Government of PNG, the country does not need to build a new coal-fired power station (or new coal mines) to achieve it. There are better ways to achieve the goal of increasing access to electricity in PNG.

Image above: Port Moresby at night, the capital of Papua New Guinea.