A solar plant that will produce electricity to consumers has opened at Faleata Racecourse in Samoa.
The 2.1 mega watt solar plant is owned by Solar Samoa and it will boost Samoa’s aim to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2017.
"Once this project is completed, along with the final ones in Faleolo, we will save $1,900,000 Tala worth of diesel being imported to Samoa," said Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi at the launch yesterday.
The total cost of the project is about $6,000,000 tala and it will produce five per cent of electricity to homes in Samoa.
Aaron Hawkins, a representative of Solar Samoa says the solar panels will provide electricity for EPC to buy at a much cheaper cost than that of fuels bought every year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tuilaepa took a swipe at copper thieves whose actions affected the project.
Copper wires used for the structures of the solar panels were reportedly stolen.
"It’s a disgusting behavior that I thought we had grown out of. However, I advise Solar Samoa to file a report with the Police and it won’t take long to find these thieves," he said.
"We don’t sell copper her in Samoa, so whoever is exporting them should be approached with who is selling the copper to them, so that we can find the culprits doing these embarrassing crimes," Prime Minister Tuilaepa added.