Yaglamens Aure champions Mini-hydro solutions amidst PNG’s energy challenges

Frequent power outages across Papua New Guinea (PNG) severely disrupt daily operations of institutions and businesses.

A reliable electricity supply is crucial for maintaining productivity, especially in rural areas where access to power remains limited.

Yaglamens Aure, a resident of Pombemer in the Kundiawa Gembogl District of Simbu Province, exemplifies self-reliance in addressing this issue.

Lacking formal education, Aure developed expertise in mini-hydro power generation through observation while working with German missionaries at Gembogl. He believes in transferring these self-taught skills to younger generations, enabling them to harness free energy sources and improve their livelihoods.

Aure emphasizes the necessity of equipping communities with basic technical knowledge to foster self-reliance.

He points out that nearly all rural communities in PNG lack access to electricity, leading to dependence on inefficient solar power solutions.

To address this, Aure actively assists his community by constructing mini-hydro systems, providing affordable electricity to households. He advocates for teaching communities to build their own dams and generate electricity at minimal costs.

"I am not the sole skilled individual in the Gembogl area there are also other specialists whose expertise the government can harness with necessary skills development trainings and resource," Aure said.

Aure said supporting these local talents with necessary materials, the government can facilitate the generation of free energy for communities and institutions, including schools and health centers.

Meanwhile, addressing the broader context, inadequate maintenance of power infrastructure contributes significantly to frequent outages.

A 2016 review revealed that poor maintenance of plants and transmission lines, rather than insufficient capacity, is the primary cause of unreliability in PNG's power grids.

This situation leads many businesses and households to rely on backup generators to mitigate power loss, underscoring the need for a stable power supply to sustain essential services.