Water PNG recently commissioned the extension of the water supply pipeline in Morokea, Kimbe, West New Britain Province. This means more people will receive safe, clean and treated water from their household taps.

The commissioning of the pipeline was held jointly with Water PNG 4^th Board Meeting of 2014. The Water PNG Board and Management make it a priority to visit one Business Centre each year as part of their annual Board program.

Water PNG Deputy Board Chairman Mr. Peter Pokawin who officiated the event said such commissioning was timely and was evident of a promising and steady growth of Water PNG services throughout the country especially in the provincial and district towns.

Amidst provincial representatives and IPBC representative who are the shareholders of this project, Water PNG Chief Executive – Managing Director Mr. Raka Taviri Jnr. when delivering his speech said: “Water is the key to us all and so this is a very significant day where we witness the service delivery of treated water to the door steps of the people in Kimbe.”

Mr. Taviri while congratulating the Kimbe Business Center Team on a job well done thanked the Board for its continued support and commended Senior Project Engineer Ms. Jacquetta Simet for managing the project and ensuring it was completed on time and on budget.

“It is not a million kina project but its return will be beneficial to us all,” he said.

Meanwhile Water PNG Kimbe Business Center Manager Mr. Patrick Jinimbo in his welcome speech thanked the Management and Board for making this project possible.

“We believe that this project will have a business impact and will build up the customer base here in Kimbe,” Mr. Jinimbo said.

He said the total number of expected connections from this extension is estimated at a little over 100 while the total new connections are estimated at about 129.

“During and after the construction of the Pipeline Project there was actual increase in Kina sales as new customers were registered and connected.”

He said from monthly sales of K166, 000 in January 2013 there was an overwhelming increase of more than 50% in the sales figures totaling to K267, 136.

“With the current trend continuing it is expected that Kina Sales will increase to an estimated K300,000 per month,” he said.

Senior Project Engineer Ms. Jacquetta Simet said the total cost of the project was K286, 205. 39 and started in 2012 with materials procurement for the trunk main with the construction of the 2.9Km 100mm diameter Upvc pipeline beginning in 2013.

She said the Morokea Pipeline extension is a 2.9km 100mm diameter pipeline extension from the Kimbe General hospital to about 200m from the Dagi Bridge along the New Britain highway to Nivani.

After the launch, the visiting team was taken on tour around the small but busy Kimbe town and to the treatment plant and the new bore.  The team then took a 2-hour drive up to Bialla the next day to see the new Water Supply System which was launched early May last year. Bialla is one of the first district towns to have a water supply system under the Government’s PIP program.