One thousand households in maritime areas around Fiji will benefit under the new Solar Home Systems Project funded by the Government of Japan.
A signing ceremony for this financial agreement was held between the Ministry for Works, Transport & Public Utilities and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva today.
The agreement will see the release of a grant up to US$2.3 million through the Japanese Government for the installation of 1000 solar home systems in areas such as Lau, Lomaiviti, Yasawa and Ba.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ministry for Works, Transport and Public Utilities permanent secretary Mr Francis Kean said the agreement is a momentous one for Fiji as it supports Government’s efforts to provide sustainable energy for all.
“The signing here today is also important occasion as it recognises or supports the United Nations General Assembly in declaring 2012 the International Year of sustainable Energy For All”, Mr Kean said.
“We are also in the process of wrapping up another aspect of the agreement which is the provision for desalination plants for Fiji that will see another additional US$1.7 million from the Pacific Environment Community Fund.”
The project is also Japan’s contribution to Pacific island countries to tackle environmental issues.
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s acting secretary general Mr Feleti Teo said the initiative is designed to contribute to Fiji and the region’s collective efforts to reduce carbon emissions through increasing the use of renewable energy and the reduction of heavy reliance on the use of fossil fuels.
“If successfully implemented the project will provide significant benefits to people in 41 rural villages around Fiji by increasing access to a reliable and secure supply of electricity to households from power generated by solar panels,” Mr Teo said.
“While the project will install 1000 solar home systems that will provide access to electricity to each household, at the same time it will help reduce the reliance on kerosene which will in turn result in cost savings to each household.
“Most importantly, the environmental benefit has been assessed to result in the reduction of carbon emissions by the equivalent of about 358,000kg of carbondioxide each year,” Mr Teo added.
He highlighted that the use of renewable energy is no longer an option, but an imperative.
“For the region to be true to its words, it must invest heavily in renewable energy and backed up with strong political will. Climate change, has been recognised by the region as the greatest challenge of our time, for it threatens not only our already vulnerable livelihoods, economies and environment but the very viability of some Pacific communities.”