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• Past Interventions
• Current Issues for PNG
• Programme Response

The effective social and economic development of Pacific Communities is dependent on three essential inputs, namely energy, water and information and communication technologies. The Community Lifelines Programme aims to improve the Pacific Communities’ access to these essential inputs.

To achieve this in PNG, SOPAC has provided assistance in response to specific requests and through a number of general regional initiatives. A summary of these activities and initiatives is provided below:

Past Interventions

Initiatives completed in Papua New Guinea that relate to the Community Lifelines Programme involved development of the water, energy, and information and communication technology sectors.

A preliminary visit was conducted in 1995 to determine the existing structure and water resource facilities within PNG. While there were private companies that handled the development and provision of this essential service, a few limitations were discovered in this visit. Firstly, the agencies lacked coordination and government had limited input because of the non-existence of a statutory body or ministry through which development could be channelled. Of the existing agencies, accessibility of data on drilling wells, well-testing and construction was discovered was the limitation.

The formation of the Water Supply and Sanitation Committee WASCOM has proven useful for PNG. The Committee is the main consultative body on water and sanitation issues in the country. This group filters right down to the various provinces, as it exists in each province.

PNG’s interest continues to be represented at regional forums. In 2002, PNG prepared a Country Report to contribute to the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management meeting. The regional meeting, ‘From Vision to Action: Towards Sustainable Water Management in the Pacific’, held in Fiji in mid-2002 resulted in the endorsement of a Communiqué signed by 14 out of the 18 Representatives including PNG. With such a high level endorsement, a commitment has been made to work towards sustainable water management in the Pacific, which covers the areas of water resources management, island vulnerability, awareness, technology, institutional arrangements and finance.

Despite the poor sewerage and sanitation system in both of PNG’s rural and urban areas, the PNG government continues to push for community participation in the provision of basic social services such as water supply and sanitation (PNG National Health Plan 2001-2010, 2001).

SOPAC’s role in the energy sector has been limited and based more on request. The advisory services and information therefore has been provided in relevance to the needs of PNG.

In Feb 2000, the SOPAC Energy Unit, in response to PNG Energy Division’s request, conducted a two weeklong workshop on the Energy Supply and Demand Database1. The primary objective of workshop was to introduce the modified energy database, provide training on data management, sourcing and inputting. The workshop covered energy planning and modelling and the input of available energy data .

The Department of Petroleum and Energy in PNG had requested SOPAC’s assistance in the preparation of the final version of the National Energy Policy2. The objective of this activity is to assist the PNG Energy Unit to review the National Policy Statements and Guideline. SOPAC Energy Unit has commented in detail on the current NEP statement and submitted comments to the PNG office of Energy Development .

SOPAC has been helping PNG in improving its human capital base through training programmes, workshops, seminars and courses run at the University of the South Pacific and at the Secretariat. Improving its management systems and training has been another priority with SOPAC. Training in the use of Geographical Information System (GIS) has also been provided in PNG. Local officials have been trained in using GIS for remote-sensing (RS) development and in power utilities.

A computing unit for GIS and remote sensing work was provided to PNG in 1993 through funding under Lome III. Technical assistance, hardware and support continue to be an integral part of SOPAC’s workplan for PNG.

The ICT Unit is also providing assistance to the development of Internet and Intranet services within the region. Through the EDF Project there has been ongoing consultations with stakeholders on issues related to the MapServer.

As a regional data centre, the ICT Unit has been compiling geographical data on Papua New Guinea.

Current Issues for PNG

Within the context of the three pillars of sustainable development, there are a number of critical issues that have been identified by Papua New Guinea through national and regional mechanisms. Many of these issues are critical in relation to the achievement of Papua New Guinea’s longer-term vision and fall within the work programme component areas of the Community Lifelines Programme. In terms of the globally recognised pillars of sustainability, namely environmental, economic and social issues, the relevant identified key issues and concerns are summarised below:

• Provision of water, despite normally relatively abundant rainfall, is generally inadequate. Only 20 percent of the rural population has access to piped water.
• Port Moresby’s water supply system is expensive and inefficient.
• Need to develop social infrastructure such as water supply
• Lack of communication and networking amongst stakeholders on the Dialogue on Water and Climate affecting Small Island Countries (SIC) in the South Pacific Region.
• Lack of skilled labour particularly in technical and vocational fields.
• Urbanisation requires the provision of adequate systems to more towns.
• The power supply network reaches less than a fifth of the population, and very few people in rural areas.
• Electricity Commission of PNG is constrained by geographic, human resource and financial limitations.

Programme Response

Tackling these issues requires a pragmatic approach from PNG’s partners, such as SOPAC. The Community Lifelines Programme provides assistance through both regional projects and specific activities that respond to individual country requests.

Regionally, PNG’s needs are being addressed along with other South Pacific member countries through. The following regional programmes provide opportunities for PNG to participate in:

• Regional Wind Energy Education Programme: This is a capacity building programme jointly implemented by SOPAC, USP and UNEP. The programme involves the introduction of a postgraduate course in wind energy and is offered as part of the degree offerings at USP. The course provides opportunities for those that would like to pursue further studies in wind energy.
• Regional Biomass Assessment Programme: SOPAC has completed the first phase of this programme in six PICs. The programme provides training in biomass resources assessment and also quantifies the biomass resources in participating countries. The second phase involves the extension of this programme to other PICs including PNG.
• Pacific Islands Energy Policy and Strategic Action Planning: This programme commences this year and focuses on building the capacity in the PICs to develop practical national energy policies, plans and practical mechanisms to guide energy sector development in PICs.
• Institutional Capacity Building on Renewable Energy Training in Pacific Islands: This programme focuses on improving the capacity of PICs on renewable energy technologies, resource assessment and project development.
• Energy Demand and Supply Database: SOPAC is assisting PICs in the development of a user-friendly energy demand and supply database. The database is an essential tool for the energy sector planning. Energy Demand and Supply Database: SOPAC is assisting PICs in the development of a user-friendly energy demand and supply database. The database is an essential tool for the energy sector planning.
• The development of cost effective and suitable technology such as Geographic Information Systems [GIS] and Remote Sensing on spatial data for the region that is accessible for relevant stakeholders, regionally and internationally; the development of intranet and internet technologies; relevant support to the government departments concerned, and ensuring the accuracy of available data ;
• Identification of a National Information Centre and installation and deployment of a web server (MapServer) using open source GIS system that provides interactive and public access via the Internet to spatial and tabular datasets organised by layers where stakeholders such as land management, resource management and the utilities can control various layers in the GIS. This activity is a fundamental component of the SOPAC/EU project Reducing Vulnerabilities in Pacific ACP States .
• The provision of technical advice on water and sanitation in the region, its proper management and awareness of waste management; the development of strategies that will reduce member islands’ vulnerability to drought ;
• The strengthening of the capacity of Papua New Guinea including through the identification of alternative sources of aggregates for construction purposes, the planning of safe and adequate water supplies and sanitation systems, the development of comprehensive hazard and risk management tools for safeguarding of communities and the provision of database and management tools for Island Systems Management (ISM) through the SOPAC/EU Project.
• The review of existing policy and legislation in water, energy and relevant information and communication technologies that relate to SOPAC work programmes; representation of Pacific concerns at global forums, and the coordination of regional action plans in these areas .