PNG National Power Sector Forum
03 April 2025
Government of PNG and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed on the need of a National Power Sector Forum that will bring all key players in the sector and senior government decision makers in one place to discuss the sector issues, challenges, opportunities and way forward with actionable roadmap for energy sector development.
The Forum will focus on the following two key strategic priority areas: (i) sector planning for future infrastructure development, attracting private sector, and accelerating electrification rollout towards scaling-up renewable energy resources; and (ii) financial sustainability: utility reforms, privatization, and tariff frameworks. A results framework with key result areas, development interventions and key outcomes with result indicators divided into short term (2025) and medium term (2026–2030).
Objectives:
The objective of the Forum is to develop an action plan that will focus on providing reliable, affordable, sustainable energy for promoting comprehensive and inclusive economic growth.
Target Participants:
Government of PNG Ministers and Senior Officials, ADB Management, PNG Energy Sector Agencies, Development Partners, Academia, Public and Private sector.
Program and Learning Materials:
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Apr 2025 | Day 1: Open Forum – Addressing Challenges and Strategic Priorities | ||
| 03 Apr 2025 | 8:30 am | Registration and coffee/tea | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Welcome Remarks | Said Zaidansyah (Country Director, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Opening Remarks | Priyantha Wijayatunga (Senior Sector Director Energy, ADB) |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Hon. William Duma (Minister of State Enterprises) | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 9:30 am | Keynote Address | Hon. James Marape (Prime Minister) |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:00 am | Photo break | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Session 1: Sector Planning – Developing a Power Sector Master Plan, and Renewable and Climate Policies | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Introduction | Peter Baum, Senior Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Government plans and outlook | Hon. Thomas Opa, Minister of Energy |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Power sector planning and sector governance – experience from Indonesia | Syofvi Roekman, Director, Tetratech, formerly PLN |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Success story – Philippine Energy Plan | Antonio Barcelona, Division Chief, Department of Energy Philippines |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Panel discussion | Moderator: Keiju Mitsuhashi, Director, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Panel Members | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Dr. Cate Rogers, Minister Counsellor Economics, Health and Infrastructure, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 10:15 am | Matsuoka Hideaki, Chief Representative, JICA | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 11:30 am | Session 2: Financial Sustainability and Tariff Reforms | Moderator: Hyunjung Lee, Senior Energy Economist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 11:30 am | Introduction | Hyunjung Lee, Senior Energy Economist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 11:30 am | Shared Focus on Financial Sustainability | PNG Power Ltd. |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 11:30 am | Tariff regulation and assessment of sector’s financial challenges | Satnam Singh, ADB consultant, CRISIL |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 11:30 am | ADB's Power Sector Reforms and Financial Sustainability | Priyantha Wijayatunga, Senior Sector Director Energy, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 12:30 pm | Lunch Break | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Session 3: Privatization and Utility Reforms | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Introduction | Peter Baum, Senior Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Preparing and implementing utility reforms and privatization | Rohan Seneviratne, former CEO, Ceylon Electricity Board (Sri Lanka) |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Lessons learned from power utility reforms and privatization around the world | Eric Shumway, Senior Director, Delphos |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Panel discussion | Moderator: Peter Baum, Senior Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Sector restructuring and privatization in the Philippines | Antonio Barcelona, Division Chief, Department of Energy Philippines |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Ongoing utility reform processes in PPL | Professor David Kavanamur, MD, KCH |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 1:30 pm | Enabling environment for privatization | Mariano Salto, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Session 4: Electrification Rollout – Leveraging On- and Offgrid Solutions to Connect PNG’s Population to Power | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Introduction | Tika Limbu, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Success stories on electrification in Nepal | Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Ex- Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Nepal |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Panel discussion | Moderator: Tika Limbu, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Panelists | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Planning and financing electricity access sustainably | Syofvi Roekman, Director, Tetratech, formerly PLN |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Private sector investments in electrifying PNG provinces | James Nelson, CEO, Dirio Gas and Power |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Connecting rural communities | Artemiy Izmestyev, Country Economist, UNDP |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 2:30 pm | Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Ex- Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Nepal | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:30 pm | Tea break | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | Session 5: Expanding Renewable Energy through Private Sector Investments | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | Introduction | Hyunjung Lee, Senior Energy Economist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | Panel Discussion | Moderator: Hyunjung Lee, Senior Energy Economist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | Improving regulations and guidelines for private sector participation in generation sector through standardizing the PPAs and identifying remaining challenges and plans from the regulator | Ronald Meketa, Managing Director, National Energy Authority |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | ADB's Experiences in Asia and the Pacific and ingredients to unlock renewable potential in PNG – success stories and lessons learned | Henri Devys, Market Advisory Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 3:45 pm | Overcoming challenges in renewable development – lessons from Southeast Asia and beyond | Eric Shumway, Senior Director, Delphos |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Session 6: A Deeper Dive into Global Success Stories | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Introduction | Tika Limbu, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Break-out sessions | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Nepal – rapid electrification | Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, Ex- Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Nepal |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Indonesia – sector and investment planning | Syofvi Roekman, Director, Tetratech, formerly PLN |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Philippines – Sector planning, privatization, and private sector participation | Antonio Barcelona, Division Chief, Department of Energy Philippines |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Sri Lanka – privatization and utility reforms | Rohan Seneviratne, former CEO, Ceylon Electricity Board (Sri Lanka) |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 4:45 p.m. | Regional – tariff and regulatory reforms | Priyantha Wijayatunga, Senior Sector Director Energy, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 5:30 pm | Wrap-up followed by reception and Forum dinner | |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 5:30 pm | Summary and wrap-up | Keiju Mitsuhashi, Director Energy, ADB |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 5:45 pm | Closing Remarks | Hon. John Rosso, Deputy Prime Minister |
| 03 Apr 2025 | 6:00 pm | Reception and informal engagement among stakeholders to discuss key takeaways from Day 1. |
| Date | Session / Activity | Presentation Material | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr 2025 | Day 2: Closed-Door Session – Collaborative Policy Discussions | Day 2: Closed-Door Session – Collaborative Policy Discussions | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 8:30 am | Registration and coffee/tea | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Welcome Remarks | Said Zaidansyah (Country Director, ADB |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Opening Remarks | Priyantha Wijayatunga (Senior Sector Director Energy, ADB) and Hon. William Duma (Minister of State Enterprises) |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 9:00 am | Recap of Day 1 | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 9:30 am | Session 1: Sector Planning for Future Infrastructure Development, Attracting Private Sector, and Accelerating Electrification Rollout towards Low-Carbon Energy Transition | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 9:30 am | Introduction of Sector Reform Action Plan | Peter Baum, Senior Energy Specialist, ADB |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 10:30 am | Tea/Coffee Break | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 11:00 am | Session 2: Financial Sustainability: Utility Reforms, Privatization, and Tariff Frameworks | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 11:00 am | Introduction | Hyunjung Lee, Senior Energy Economist, ADB |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 12:00 pm | Lunch Break | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 1:00 pm | Session 3: Actionable Roadmap for Reform | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 2:00 pm | Session 4: Wrap-Up, followed by reception | |
| 04 Apr 2025 | 2:00 pm | Closing remarks | ADB and PNG government representatives |