Water PNG eyes more projects, pays K500,000 to state

By MALUM NALU

WATER PNG, formerly PNG Waterboard, will complete water supply projects for more communities this year under the European Union-funded district towns water supply programme (DTWSP), The National reports.
This was revealed last Friday during a K500,000 dividend payment to the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC).
WPNG board chairman William Sweet, who presented the money to IPBC senior economic analyst and WPNG board member Dr Stephen Kikala, said the company had just completed water supply projects for Finschhafen in Morobe and Maprik in East Sepik.

Water PNG contractors laying out a new pipe at Kreer Heights in Wewak, East Sepik province

“These are scheduled to come on line soon after final checks and will serve more than 3,000 people each,” he said.
“Under the DTWSP, Kainantu water supply project has just commenced and is expected to be completed this year.”
The K500,000 payment was part of WPNG’s community service obligation to the people of PNG and the government.
Sweet said it was a sign that WPNG was a “healthy and strong” state-owned enterprise.
“The state-owned enterprises that are able to make a dividend payment are healthy and strong.
“With this payment, I’m sure that there will be a future of dividend payments.”
Sweet said the K500,000 was interim dividend payment for 2010, with the last dividend payment to government being in 2007.
WPNG currently operated in 13 urban centres and four district towns, namely Mutzing in Morobe, Bereina and Kwikila in Central, and Rabaul in East New Britain.
The company had undergone a corporate restructure that saw it took on a new name, logo and slogan.
It also undertook a new management structure that had seen its main operational town of Lae elevated to ‘divisional’ status.
Under the new structure, it signed an agreement with Hunter Water of Australia for a review of its staff remuneration package, and completed an intensive training needs analysis.
“These all have to be done with the aim to upskill staff, retain technically-skilled staff including draftsmen and engineers, and streamline operational procedures to better serve our clients and keep up with change,” Sweet said.
“This year, WPNG will be celebrating 25 years of providing access to safe water and sanitation services in PNG.
“Our vision is to enhance the quality of life of our people through the provision of safe water and sanitation services in an environmentally-friendly manner.”