PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNG Ports) has completed stage one of the Alotau Port Foreshore Protection Project.
A similar project is also being carried out at the Wewak Port, and is due for completion next month (July).
Chief Executive Officer of PNG Ports, Neil Papenfus, says both projects, costing K780, 000 and K1.2mil respectively, are part of PNG Ports’ nation-wide port foreshore protection program which will cost a total of K10mil. 
Mr Papenfus said the port foreshore protection program was essential to prevent loss of land area at the shorefront, damage to existing port infrastructure and potential stand-down time of port operations.
“Alotau has completed the first stage of the project and is the first of the 10 port foreshore projects to be carried out,” he said.
“This K10million investment aligns with the company’s infrastructure redevelopment drive to build safe and sustainable infrastructure, factoring climate change and seismic resilience in the design of all port infrastructural upgrades.”
“Kimbe, Lorengau, and Motukea ports are in the design stages, with Rabaul, Kavieng, Vanimo, Madang and Buka to follow. The port foreshore protection program should be completed by 2026.”
“Foreshore protection provides a barrier for our port infrastructure which are directly exposed to risks stemming from rising sea levels and intensified storm surges associated with climate change,” he said.
PNG Ports continues to implement multiple capital expenditure investment projects each year, guided by the 30 Year Port Infrastructure Master Plan.
The Master Plan, launched three years ago, highlights the need for PNG Ports’ long-serving infrastructure and port assets to undergo ‘priority repair and modernization’, in order to meet current and future operating requirements.
This detailed Master Plan also attracted funding from the European Union and the Australian Government through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.
Further improvements to the ports will be carried out using these funding and will also see climate change and seismic resilient port infrastructural upgrades at selected ports, including the piloting of a ‘green port’ initiative at the Daru Port.
Mr Papenfus added that these upgrades would be carried out in collaboration with industry stakeholders, impact communities within declared port limits, relevant government agencies, and development partners.
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