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Electricity, Phone, Internet, TV, Radio, Public Transportation, Banking, Postal and Other Services in Papua New Guinea

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The government of Papua New Guinea is mandated to provide basic services such as water and electricity under the supervision of concerned agencies. Drawing more focus is the water service which is not accessible to the country’s entire population. The rural communities, for instance, while having access to questionable water supply quality, are faced with inadequate sanitation, and only 15% of those living in urban areas has access to safe water and adequate sanitation, and enjoys a 24-hour quality supply that meets drinking water guidelines of the World Health Organization.

The Department of Environment and Conservation regulates the country’s water resources and waste water discharge under the Environment Act 2000, which provide for the rules to protect the environment and water. It also issues permits for ground water exploration, extraction and ground water and surface water, as well as the discharge of waste water to an existing body of ground water.

Port Moresby, the country’s capital has a separate water supply and sewerage system operated by the government while the water supply and sanitation services are operated and managed by the provincial governments and local level government units. The Department of Public Health is responsible for the country’s drinking water quality.

The electricity service is provided by the Electricity Commission from hydro and heavy fuel oil power plants and the PNG Power which handles 19 power stations, including the major hydroelectric systems in Port Moresby, Ramu, and the Gazelle Peninsula.  The PNG Power is also proposing the installation of a geothermal power plant as an alternative to generate electricity.

For air transport service, local and international flights are provided by Air Niugini. The land transport service has only 4-wheel drive vehicles available on major roads and some inter-town highways, while the sea transport is served by passenger ships operating only on schedules between Lae and Momase and New Guinea Island, and between New Guinea Island and Bougainville.