Tonga and New Zealand to construct solar power plant
New
Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced
today that New Zealand will invest $7.9 million to fund the
construction of a 1 Mega Watt photovoltaic solar plant in
Tonga.
The project will be delivered through an innovative
public-private partnership with Meridian Energy, Tonga Power
Limited, and the Tongan Government.
"Reducing the
Pacific's reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels and
promoting renewable energy will be a major topic of
discussion for Leaders during the 42nd Pacific Island
Forum," Mr McCully said.
"We want to share our
considerable knowledge of this sector with our Pacific
neighbours, and Meridian Energy's experience in renewable
energy makes them a logical partner for the Tongatapu solar
project.
"This public-private partnership is an exciting
approach to delivering aid that also represents a possible
model for similar infrastructure projects in the
Pacific.
Tongan Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano welcomed
New Zealand's commitment to the project.
"The construction
of a solar plant in Tongatapu will support the Tongan
Government's Energy Road Map, a 10 year plan to reduce
reliance on imported fuel for electricity
generation."
"The Tonga Government is grateful for such an
assistance, which will contribute to Tonga's target of
reducing fossil fuel use by 50 percent by the end of 2012,"
Lord Tu'ivakano said.
The construction of the new solar
plant in Tonga is expected to begin before the end of the
current year.
When operational the solar plant is expect
to produce about 4% of Tongatapu's annual generation (1880
MWh generation vs ~48GWh load), and will offset
approximately 470,000 litres of diesel per
annum.
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