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According to PNG Power Limited (PPL), Papua New Guinea’s peak power demand is expected to increase from 210 MW in 2012 to 347 MW in 2026. Under the current state of the power sector in Papua New Guinea (PNG), it is critical to implement measures to cope with the increasing power demand to promote investment, economic growth, and ultimately to achieve poverty reduction through economic growth. One of the solutions identified to improve the reliability of PNG power systems and thus to meet the demand is to interconnect the major grids in the country so that the loads could be shared among them. This project embarks in designing a 345-kV electric power transmission line to interlink the Ramu and Rouna power grids of Papua New Guinea. The design is done by analysing all the necessary aspects of the transmission lines with in-depth calculations performed using MATHCAD software. This design is the basis for extra-high voltage (EHV) transmission network in anticipation for the power generation and demand growth in PNG.

An electric storm is a source of electrostatic charge that can induce high current and electric potential on a surface of an aircraft through direct effects. It can also be a source of radiated electromagnetic pulses on an aircraft in flight through indirect effects. Both direct and indirect effects can have adverse effects on flight safety. Thus, it is vital to gain good understanding of the pre-lightning strike and the electrical characteristics of a thunderstorm in order to quantify lightning threats to aircraft. Since lightning parameters are not easily measurable, predictive modeling can be applied to model the pre-lightning strike and aircraft electrostatics. In this paper, we applied the 3D dipole model in predicting the electrostatics build up along an aircraft extremities as it approaches an ambient electric field of a charged cloud. The results give a quantitative evaluation of the threats during pre-lightning strikes and electrostatics buildup on the aircraft. This is vital in designing and coordinating shielding measures to mitigate the threats and to harden the protection systems for aircraft.