The mountains of Sogeri in the Central province have had some rainfalls lately, but the amount of rain is still not enough to fill up the Sirinumu Dam which residents of Port Moresby and Central province depend on for power and water.

According to PNG Power Limited, the El Nino is expected to peak throughout January 2027, and the current situation is just the tip of the iceberg one could say. What is going to happen next year onwards, is making everyone edgy.

In a recently released information by PNG Power, it says hydro stations depend on rain- fed dams such as Sirinumu and Yonki Dam in the Eastern Highlands province. And when water levels fall below, they can generate less electricity supply.

Due to the low water levels, PNG Power is also using more diesel for power generators to produce power, which then leads to high cost of operation and power load shedding.

The state-owned power company continues to advocate on the preservation of water and urges the public to be aware of the situation and to not waste water or power.

PNG Power also urges the public to make sure all rechargeable electronic devise like torches and mobile phones are fully charged and ready for use, especially during the time of load shedding.

The Dam is depended on rainfall and the only way water levels can rise again is when there is continuous rainfall for weeks and even into months; this alone can ensure the refilling of the dam.