In a significant development for Papua New Guinea’s energy sector, the Napa Napa Solar Power Project was officially commissioned today in Port Moresby. The landmark facility was launched by the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises and Member for Mt. Hagen, Hon. William Duma, marking a major milestone in the Government’s Least Cost Generation program.

Strategically located near the Napa Napa oil refinery, the project integrates renewable energy into the national grid with a capacity of 300 kilowatts, expected to generate over 485 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually. Spearheaded by local investor Mr. Jeff Kennedy, the project stands out as a 100% locally funded venture, demonstrating the power of domestic capital to drive critical infrastructure. The commissioning follows 12 months of rigorous technical and commercial negotiations to ensure the facility provides long-term stability to the Port Moresby power grid without compromising technical standards.

During the ceremony, Minister Duma emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. “I want to commend the developer partner, Napa Napa Energy Limited, and our utility company, PNG Power, for entering into what is now a much more fair, equitable, and commercial arrangement,” Hon. Duma stated. “The Marape Government is shifting to renewable and clean energy resources as we move away from a reliance on imported fuel, which will also ease pressure on our foreign exchange reserves.”

The event was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador to PNG, H.E. Yang Xiaoguang, who noted that the project—supported by Chinese technical collaboration—reflects a shared commitment between the two nations toward sustainable development and industrial modernization. By reducing dependency on volatile global fuel markets, the Napa Napa Solar Project provides critical price certainty and serves as a blueprint for future renewable energy integrations across the country.