Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has delivered a powerful and heartfelt address reaffirming his government’s unwavering commitment to energy reform, economic transformation, and responsible leadership as Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th year of independence.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the National Power Sector Forum, jointly hosted by the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at APEC Haus in Port Moresby.
The Forum—the first of its kind in PNG—gathered more than 100 key national and international experts, including government officials, industry leaders, and development partners, to discuss power sector priorities and solutions for achieving reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to support inclusive and comprehensive growth.
Addressing this high-level gathering, Prime Minister Marape expressed deep gratitude to the people and businesses of Papua New Guinea for their tolerance and resilience in the face of decades-long challenges in the power sector.
“You have lived with the pain and misery of inefficiencies in our power sector for too long. Thank you for your great tolerance. We have inherited a broken system, but we are taking decisive action to rebuild and reform,” the Prime Minister said.
Since assuming office in 2019, the Marape Government has made significant progress in stabilising PNG Power Ltd, investing over K400 million and implementing major structural reforms at both board and executive levels.
A key milestone has been the establishment of the National Energy Authority (NEA), now tasked with regulatory oversight and energy policy development—freeing PNG Power to focus solely on electricity generation and distribution.
“Energy drives the world. From electricity to water and transport, energy is central to human advancement. We want to ensure 100% reliable, clean energy access to our people—well before our 70th anniversary in 2045,” Prime Minister Marape declared.
The Prime Minister committed to going beyond the current 70% national electrification target, pushing for universal access through decentralised power solutions, private sector partnerships, and provincial leadership.
He also delivered a firm message to the public service and SOEs: “If you cannot do the job, leave the job. I have no time to waste. Our people deserve better, and the time for excuses is over.”
Energy reform, he emphasised, is central to his government’s broader vision of building a K200 billion economy, capable of supporting a growing population of more than 10 million. When he took office, the economy stood at K79 billion. Today, it has reached K120 billion, with projections to exceed K130 billion by year-end.
Reinforcing PNG’s reputation for fiscal responsibility, Prime Minister Marape noted that the country has never defaulted on its international debt obligations, including during the global COVID-19 crisis.
“We peaked at 52% debt-to-GDP during COVID, but today we are back to 47%. We continue to honour our debts, our covenants, and our credibility as a borrower,” he said. With a landmass larger than Japan, the UK, and New Zealand—and one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the world—Prime Minister Marape said that energy solutions must be tailored to the country’s geography and decentralised realities.
He reaffirmed the Government’s focus on provincial-level energy initiatives, empowering provinces like Morobe, East New Britain, and the Highlands to pursue investor-friendly, locally driven solutions.
“We must stop managing PNG Power like it’s 1975. This is 2025. Let private capital in. Let innovation lead. Let’s not waste another 20 years.”
As PNG looks toward 2045, the Prime Minister invited development partners and investors to join the country’s transition to clean, renewable energy, including opportunities in hydrogen, thermal, solar, and hydroelectric power.
“This is a country with global potential in clean energy. Let’s build a mature, energy-secure, climate-resilient economy together,” he concluded.