Low water at Yonki cuts power supply

Water storage at Yonki Dam in Eastern Highlands Province has fallen to 35.46 per cent of its full capacity, reducing hydroelectricity generation and forcing PNG Power Limited to continue load shedding across Lae, Madang and the Highlands.

PNG Power chief executive officer, Paul Bayly said prolonged dry weather associated with El Niño had significantly reduced water inflows into the dam, which supplies water for electricity generation at Yonki Toe and Ramu hydro power stations.

As of October 20, 2026, the dam’s available water storage for power generation had dropped to 35.46 per cent of full capacity.

The reduced water supply has affected electricity generation at a time when customers across the Ramu grid require about 90 megawatts during peak demand.

Yonki hydro generation is currently producing about 50 megawatts on a normal day, leaving a shortfall of approximately 40 megawatts.

The Ramu grid supplies electricity to Lae, Madang, Mount Hagen, Jiwaka, Goroka and Simbu.

PNG Power said the current power interruptions were caused by insufficient generation resulting from the reduced water inflows, rather than equipment failure or damage to the electricity network.

Despite rainfall in Lae, the situation at Yonki Dam remains a concern because the dam’s catchment continues to experience prolonged dry weather.

PNG Power said it was carefully managing water releases to prevent storage from falling below 10 per cent of full capacity, the minimum safe operating level needed to protect generating equipment and sustain power supply.

The utility warned that running the dam down too quickly could lead to a longer and more severe electricity shortage later.

Load shedding is therefore being used to manage the available generation and maintain stability across the Ramu grid.

PNG Power expects the interruptions to continue for the remainder of 2026 and into the next wet season, which the National Weather Service forecasts to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

The company is assessing temporary power generation options to support the grid during the dry period, while longer-term plans include additional hydro, solar and gas-fired generation to reduce reliance on Yonki Dam.

PNG Power has apologised to customers affected by the ongoing interruptions and said the return to normal supply would depend largely on rainfall and the recovery of water levels at Yonki Dam.