HON. JONE USAMATE'S SPEECH AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE AMGALI ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT

• Residents of Amgali Settlement;
• Vakaturaga Tabanivono vua na Turaga na kena Taukei;
• Distinguished Guests;
• Ladies and Gentlemen;
• Boys and Girls;


Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all

It gives me great pleasure to be with you today at this official commissioning of the Amgali Electrification project here in Nadi. 

As the Minister responsible for the project, I join with you the residents of Amgali Settlement to convey our sincere gratitude and a big “Vinaka saka Vaka Levu” to the Land Owners from Momi Village for their kind support for this project.

On 23rd December 2018, the Honourable Acting Prime Minister commissioned the electrification project at Koroipita settlement in Lautoka. 

On 29th January 2019, the Honourable Prime Minister commissioned the electrification projects in Navala and Namau in Ba. Today, I stand here to continue the commitment from this government to commission your electrification project.

Government’s VISION is to “Transform the lives of every Fijian”,  we want all Fijians to have access to basic utilities and infrastructure, roads, water, electricity, schools.

This Government will continue to “walk the talk”. 

Through the leadership of the Prime Minister, our economy has achieved ten consecutive years of unprecedented growth. 

We will continue to put in place enabling and sustainable policies and frameworks to build a modern, resilient and dynamic infrastructure.

We have also stamped our mark in the global arena through the COP23 presidency. We have proven to the world that small countries like ours can make a big difference. We have placed Fiji at the forefront in the battle against climate change. We have forged strong partnerships with other small island developing states, development partners and the international community to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5°C. We will continue this battle, because we now know, that we have only 12 years left to make the changes that need to be seen in the world, or it will be too late for us in small countries like the Pacific.

Your Government aims to provide access of electricity to all Fijians by 2021 .

Not only that we want to have all our energy coming from renewable sources by 2030. 

These are huge targets. They are ambitious targets, but they are necessary. 

Access to electricity is now a right for all our people because it is central to achieving our development goals, including those related to getting rid of poverty, improving health and for gender equality

Moving to renewable energy is necessary, to save the world. As I said the world has only 12 years, to take the action needed to keep temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius

We know that 96% of our people have access to electricity. This has risen by 7% from 2007.

For these next few years, we will target the remaining 7,500 households.

The portion of our population connected to the grid increased to 79% compared to 63% in 2007, an increase of 16% . 

We intend to transform and decarbonise our energy sector, we need to introduce more renewable energy resources together with energy efficient technologies. 

Our country is blessed with renewable energy resources including hydro, solar and wind to name a few. Hydro electricity has been the mainstay of our renewable energy sources. Monasavu and Nadarivatu meets more than 50% of our electricity demand. 

To achieve our target, government would need an investment of FJ$3.341B (US$1.671B) . 

EFL together with government has identified some potential projects in Ba including the Lower Ba and Qaliwana Hydro Projects and Solar Grid-Connect Project to supplement our current electricity supply.

Government has invested significantly in our Rural Electrification Programme. In the past 5 years (2012 – 2017/2018), this Government has allocated $224M to the Department of Energy out of which 70% is allocated to the Rural electrification Program. This has benefitted a total of 25,165 households. 

In the 2018/2019 Budget, Government had allocated a total of $61.2M which will connect an additional 6,623 households for Grid Extension and Solar home system projects. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, this Government has removed the contributions that used to be levied to the communities and you here in Amgali have benefited from this initiative.

Furthermore, once you register with EFL, Government will be able to assist you by subsidizing 50% of your monthly electricity bill up to 100 kiloWatt hours, provided your combined household earnings are less than $30,000 a year. Additionally, you will also have the opportunity to obtain part of 5% non-voting shares in EFL.

These things have never been done before and have been introduced by your FijiFirst government to assist those who have the least in our society.

To you my friends here in Amgali, my fellow Fijian citizens, I want you to known how much all this costs.

An investment of around $308,031.56 was made for the grid extension and house wiring project. It will provide a reliable supply of electricity to 26 Households that is approximately 117 people — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Thank you to all the families here for your patience, and for trusting and believing in this Government to bring about this development. I can only imagine the life you had to endure while living without a sustainable electrification source.

For too long, you have been deprived of having access to electricity. However, through the commitment of this Government to leave no Fijians behind, you and your children will now have the opportunity to enjoy and share the benefits of this important infrastructure. We hope that you utilise this and enhance the unique reputation of Amgali settlement.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Friends, enjoy and use electricity supply wisely for educational, economic, social activities and pursue a higher standard of living. 

Today we don’t only commission this energy source, this new LIGHT but also a better LIFE. 

Use this power for good. Use this improve the lives of your families. Use it to build a better future for yourself and for your grandchildren.

With those few words, I now have great pleasure in declaring the Amgali Electrification Project open. 

Thank you, Vinaka Vakalevu. 
Have a Blessed 2019