Pacific Islands reach expands for Northpower
Pacific Islands reach expands for Northpower
7 June, 2012
An innovative Kiwi electricity and fibre company has announced it is extending its project work in the Pacific Islands.
Northpower, Northland owned electricity lines distribution company, hopes to expand the impact it is having in the Pacific by securing more project work in the next 12 months.
Speaking at ANZ Pacific Infrastructure Forum in Auckland today, Northpower outlined its growth curve for the Pacific Islands.
Northpower Business Development General Manager Sean Horgan says the company has already assisted with an extensive expansion and upgrade of Samoa’s electricity network following the completion of one key project.
“A further two are underway in partnership with the Electric Power Corporation (EPC) of Samoa and these will be completed ahead of schedule later this year,” says Mr Horgan.
“For some time now we have been targeting other Pacific Islands projects for further growth – most of which are part of an Asian Development Bank or World Bank funded programme.
“We are currently assisting Meridian with the transmission circuit from the PV array to Tonga’s power network and we are also working with the Fiji Electricity Authority on a project.”
More are in sight within the Pacific Islands, says Mr Horgan.
“We are excited about the opportunities in the Pacific Islands and working with the local electricity authorities to upgrade their power networks. In future, we’d like to focus more on renewable technology and I think that will come once certain national grid projects and upgrades are complete in some of these countries.
“This is a strategic focus for Northpower following solid expansion throughout the North Island of New Zealand and in Australia in recent years. It is all based on a platform of engineering, innovation and turnkey project delivery.
“Because we are an electricity distribution network owner we have an innate understanding of what other networks require. We are also highly experienced in fibre telecommunication network design and builds, hydro, SCADA management, generation, transmission and distribution electricity systems. This suite of experience offers a lot to our partners in the Pacific,” says Mr Horgan.
About Northpower
Northpower is a
Northland owned electricity distribution company with over
54,000 electricity customers connected to its network over
an area of some 5,700 square kilometres covering the
Whangarei and Kaipara districts in Northland. Northpower
Contracting, a division of Northpower, is a leading supplier
of electricity distribution network design, maintenance and
construction services with branches across New Zealand’s
North Island and in Perth, Western Australia. More about
Northpower is available at www.northpower.com.
ENDS