Rollout of Round 2 projects gathers pace
Australia’s Pawarim Komuniti Partnerships (PKP) program has kicked off the Sola4Skuls solar energy project at a signing ceremony in Port Moresby. The new project is one of eight ground-breaking projects implemented under Round 2 of this impactful community-led program.
Sola4Skuls, implemented in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Education Advocacy Network (PEAN), will supply clean, reliable electricity to 9 schools, 120 homes and 8 community facilities in East New Britain’s Gazelle and Pomio districts.
At the signing ceremony, the Governor of East New Britain Province, the Hon. Michael Marum, joined PEAN Vice Chairman, Mr. Petrus Honga, and Lucinda Bruderlin, First Secretary for Infrastructure at the Australian High Commission, to seal their partnership and discuss the project’s next steps.
“Education remains one of our highest priorities. Many of our schools, particularly in remote parts of Gazelle and Pomio, continue to face challenges in accessing reliable electricity. Through this partnership, nine schools will now receive off-grid solar systems that will improve learning conditions for more than 3,000 students and teachers,” said Governor Marum.
Access to reliable electricity will improve teaching as well as learning. While students take the opportunity to work into the night, so will their teachers.
“We are committed to advocating for quality education in Papua New Guinea. Through this project, nine schools will benefit from solar power, bringing light, improving learning, and strengthening communities. This is only the beginning. We hope to continue this partnership and reach many more schools, especially in rural areas, so that every child has access to quality education,” said Mr Bonga.
Beyond its educational impact, the Sola4Skuls project will also improve security and wellbeing. By lighting up community spaces, solar power will enhance safety for everyone, especially women and girls, and encourage greater social and economic interaction after dark. It will also provide a stable, reliable source of energy, reducing reliance on diesel generators and lowering schools’ operating costs. This means more money for teaching and learning resources and a cleaner, healthier environment.
The Pawarim Komuniti Partnerships program is working with the Government of Papua New Guinea and local partners to bring solar energy to some of the country’s remotest communities. These ground-breaking projects are supporting the Government’s electrification targets – to connect 70% of homes by 2030 and 100% by 2050. To date, the program has installed more than 49,000 solar systems and 1,450 streetlights in seven provinces.
“Although the program has achieved much over the last five years, there’s more to be done. The program’s Round 2 projects underline Australia’s commitment to improving access to clean, affordable energy for remote communities across Papua New Guinea. These new projects are designed to meet the specific needs of the communities they serve. Whether the focus is on education, sustainable agriculture or environmental conservation, Pawarim Komuniti Partnerships is delivering clean, reliable electricity how and where it matters,” said First Secretary Bruderlin.