Renewable energy

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.

This project will see the production of energy using solar and wind sources and was celebrated by the Prime Minister as a positive initiative for Samoa’s development.  He also reiterated Samoa’s commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2017.

The Prime Minister said the launch last week signaled the start of a work programme for PREL that has been in the pipeline for sometime.

The financing facility includes a USD-5.06-million and USD-2.49-million equivalent grants from the European Union (EU) and the Government of New Zealand, respectively. While the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will administer both grants, the Government of Samoa will also provide USD 1.21 million in counterpart support, the former said in a statement on Friday.

“ADB’s energy operations in the Pacific aim to boost energy security, support low-carbon growth and help expand access to modern energy services,” said Michael Trainor, Energy Specialist in ADB’s Pacific Department.

“Our energy policy rests on promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, capacity building, and energy sector reform.”