PNG University of Technology

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION & DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

CD 111: DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE & SUSTAINABILITY
MAJOR PROJECT

RAMAZON HYDROPOWER PROJECT, AUTONOMOUS REGION OF

BOUGAINVILLE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

GROUP (D) MEMBERS:

1. PIRINDUO ABIGAIL – 22201672

2. SUI SEPHRA – 22201627
3. MAKIS NATALIE – 22201576

COURSE CODE: BBMA/1

SUBJECT CODE: CD111

TUTOR: MR JOHN MILBA

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022

RAMAZON HYDROPOWER PROJECT, AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE , PAPUA
NEW GUINEA

Introduction

Sustainable development is development that; ‘meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. Sustainability means
continuity with minimal long-term negative effect on the environment and development means
a progressive transformation of economy and society. In PNG sustainable development means
continuous progressive transformation of the economy and society with minimal long-term
negative effect on the environment. The definition of sustainable development contains two
key elements:

1. The concept of ‘needs’, in particular the essential needs of the poor, to which priority should
be given, and

2. The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the
environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.

I wanted to write about a hydropower plant project that I’ve read about known as Ramazon
Hydropower Plant Project for Bougainville Region, Papua New Guinea. I will give a brief
description of the project and this includes the past, the present and the future impacts.

In the past, approximately 90% of the population of PNG live in highly dispersed and culturally
diverse rural settlements that are isolated from each other by rugged topography. While PNG
has adequate hydropower resources the development and distribution of power from these
resources is difficult due to the scattered population, low population densities, the rugged
topography and low ability to pay. (Office of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
and World Bank, 2009)

In the present, the people in the small provincial and district centers have traditionally relied
on diesel generation. However, with increasing fuel prices and high maintenance costs many
of these systems are now in need of replacement. There are currently 570 customers connected
to the system which is generated from diesel plants with an installed capacity of 2.2MW3 of
which the maximum demand is now 2.8 MW. From 2009 - 2018 demand is expected to increase
from 3.6 GWh to 8.2 GWh. (PPL, 2009). PPL is now considering replacing or reducing
reliance on these systems with hydropower generation.

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 1

In the future, the sub-project will have several benefits including:

The annual generation of 9.2 GWh. Provision of a reliable and sustainable power supply to
Buka which will cater for future increases in demand. The sub-project will provide a cheap
source of electricity which will facilitate rural electrification in the area. The sub-project will
provide an alternative to the existing diesel generation facilities at Buka which are now old and
rely on increasingly expensive diesel fuel. The sub-project will also reduce thermal emissions
from these plants. By increasing availability to a reliable and economic supply of electricity
the subproject will provide opportunities for increased agricultural and industrial activity in the
surrounding areas. There will be some employment opportunities created during construction.
Improved road access for villages in the area of the sub-project from the upgraded road access
to the site.

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 2

Firstly, the nature or background of the sustainability should be based on the issues identified.
The electricity demand is growing rapidly in PNG and is forecast to increase. About 90% of
the population live in rural areas of which only a very small percentage have access to an
electricity supply. Electrification of these areas is hampered by the rugged terrain and the
limited ability of the large number of diverse cultural groups that make up the rural population
to pay for the service. Provision of rural electrification is included as a prerequisite in the
Government’s long term development plans for the development of rural economies and social
dynamism. In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Buka is currently the main load center
and supply is restricted to the town and the immediate area surrounding the town. There is no
supply within the northern part of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Development of
the Ramazon Hydropower plant project (HPP) will provide an additional 2.8 MW which
assist in meeting growth in both the urban and rural areas and allow some of the diesel
generators to be stood down. (Alien G. R, 1991)

The Ramazon HPP will be a 3 MW run-of-river HPP that will be located on the Ramazon River
41 km south east of Buka. The Ramazon HPP intake is situated 8.4 km upstream of the main
road bridge across the Ramazon River. The powerhouse is situated 5.0 km below the intake.
The IEE was scheduled at an early stage in the PPTA and many of the technical details were
not available at the time of completing the IEE. Accordingly, many of the distances that are
required to estimate clearing requirements are best estimates.

Secondly, the people have very good experiences from past projects such as illegal logging and
the Panguna Mine. They have seen negative environmental impacts and were concerned
whether the Hydropower project would have similar impacts as illegal logging and Panguna
mine.

The main issues identified in the study is the clearing of vegetation. Most were concerned about
their traditional herbal medicines as herbs provided vital health remedies and depended very
much on them for survival. They were concerned because health centers were too far away and
requested that these herbal plants not be destroyed during the construction phase. Some herbal
plants were decreasing as a result of disease and they considered that construction would
destroy more of them. The vegetation study showed that nearly 85 % of plant species growing

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 3

in the forests and near riparian vegetation had various benefits including; medicinal,
agricultural, fishery related, ornamental, ritual practice and food plants. (Alien G. R, 1991)

The very most minor issues identified in the study are the various daily activities relating to
water and the issue relating fish production and breeding in the river. Ramazon River is used
for various activities such as for washing, drinking and fishery. Villages were concerned about
impacts on the river related to the freshwater fauna, especially the freshwater fish. It was
responded that the HPP would slightly reduce the flow in a 5.0 km long section of the river
between the weir and the powerhouse but below this the flow would be rejoined again. There
may be a slight decrease in fish production below the weir but there should be no effects above
the weir.

A hunter was also concerned about the loss of wildlife fauna and their habitats upon the clearing
of vegetation which would affect their dietary requirements.

Finally, the project area includes; the technical components that have already been described
as well as the access road and transmission lines. Construction facilities include the contractor’s
facilities (administration offices, workshop, storage areas for materials and fuel and vehicle
parking areas). During construction, quarries, concrete batching and spoil disposal areas will
also be required for the sub-project. (Office of Climate Change and Environmental
Sustainability and World Bank, 2009)

The importance of sustaining the project that may affect the communities in the development
context are mainly the social benefits. (ADB, 2009) The main social beneficial impacts that
were listed down in the IEE study are;

• Access to road- the construction of the access road to the weir and powerhouse is most
likely to help the communities and give access to the communities that have been facing
difficulties in transporting their cash crops to Buka. Also, the access to road may
improve or lessen their financial expenses and spare them a lot of time from accessing
nearest clinics and aid posts

• The project will replace high-cost diesel generation with low-cost hydropower
generation and construct transmission lines along main population corridors to connect

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 4

 the hydropower sites to the main urban areas, substantially reducing costs required to
connect rural communities along the alignment. (ADB, 2009)

• Some people mentioned that the hydropower would be beneficial as it would promote
employment for locals.

• The official switching-on of lights in Bougainville means there is already a lot of

excitement being generated with the locals of villages of Manob and Sorom now
enjoying lights at night. They can also afford to have cold drinks and watch TV without
the hassle of looking for fuel to run their portable generators.

To conclude, most people are aware of the project and want to see the project be
implemented as soon as possible. Although the construction and the operation of the project
may bring benefits mainly in terms of socio-economic to the local communities, it also
brought a lot of both major and minor environmental issues in the area. (Shearman P.l.,
Bryan J.E., Ash j., Hunnam P., Mackey B. and Lokes B, 2008)

The main major issue that has been identified is the vegetation clearance for up to 47.9
hectares of vegetation required for the sub-project facilities and transmission lines. The
sustainable practices chosen to be carried out by the contractors and responsible
environmental officers, to mitigate and monitor the major issue are as follows;

• For transmission lines and project facilities limit clearing to meet the conductor’s
safety as well as the peoples’ safety.
• Environmental officers to spare limit areas to be cleared by identifying areas of
significant vegetation.
• Machinery operators need to understand vegetative boundaries and keep the
machines away from them.
• All wood waste generated from the clearing must be put to good use such as using
them as firewood.

PNG is a culturally diverse country with over 875 different languages of which 87% of the
population are still living in rural environments. The population of Autonomous Region of

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 5

Bougainville Province is about 269,900 persons as shown by the 2000 census. Buka is the
largest town with a population of 16,250 persons and is the commercial and administrative
Centre of Autonomous Region of Bougainville Province. The ARM has emerged from a 10-
year period of civil unrest which saw the economy largely destroyed. The economy is now
recovering with the help of the Ramazon HPP site which the formation of an autonomous
government has paved the way for development within the province and support from both the
national government and foreign assistance is now slowly re-establishing services and
development within the province. (United Nations and GoPNG, 2004)

Managing this Project will help develop the province in terms of economic by providing a
cheap source of electricity, rural electrification of the surrounding rural communities can be
arranged which will provide a range of additional social benefits to these communities.

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 6

BIBLIOGRAPHY
ADB. (2009, June). ADB Policy paper . SafeGuard Policy Statement.

Alien G. R. (1991, August). Field Guide To the Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea. Madang,
PNG: Chistensen Research Institute.

McAlpine J.R., K. G. (1975). Climatic Tables for Papua New Guinea. Division of Land.

Office of Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability and World Bank. (2009). Climate
Change in Papua New Guinea: Framework for the National Climate Change Strategy
and Action Plan.

PNG Power Ltd. (2009). National and Provincial Ten Year Development Plan 2009 - 2018.
Port Moresby, PNG: Technical Services Business Unit.

Shearman P.l., Bryan J.E., Ash j., Hunnam P., Mackey B. and Lokes B. (2008). The State of
Forests of Papua New Guinea. Mapping of the extent and condition of forest cover and
measuring drivers of forest change in the period 1972-2002. Port Moresby, PNG:
University of Papua New Guinea.

United Nations and GoPNG. (2004). Millennium Development Goals. Progress Report for
Papua New Guinea .

DUE DATE: MAY 9, 2022 7