NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT FOR UPOLU AND SAVAII TOUTED
By: Eirenei Ariu Toleafoa
Government is in the middle of negotiations with a new potential investor interested in establishing a renewable energy project which will benefit both Upolu and Savaii.
Due to the on-going talk’s details remains confidential but Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi told Taimi ma le Palemia, that the investment will see renewable energy plants in Biomass Gasification in Savaii and Upolu.
And if it does become a reality, the Prime Minister is optimistic that it will be sufficient to meet Government’s 100% Renewable Energy target by 2025.
The Government leader’s announcement comes a day after commissioning the Afolau Biomass Gasification Power Plant, the first of its kind in Samoa and the Pacific.
In launching the Biomass Project, the Prime Minister points out that the new Gasification Plant signifies the addition of Biomass Energy to the 3 renewable energy sources (Solar, Wind and Hydro) which are generating close to 50% of Samoa’s electricity needs.
“The completion of this Biomass Gasification Plant is one of the many renewable energy developments by the Government to push for further Renewable Energy investments and projects in Samoa,” he added.
“It signifies the mainstreaming of locally produced energy for electricity generation rather than being dependent on fossils fuel importation. Furthermore, this is also in-line with the ambitions of our government to produce all our electricity from renewable sources by 2025”, said Tuilaepa.
Funded by grants of over $11 million tala from Samoa’s partners which include the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Biomass Processing Plant will be managed by the Samoa Trust Estate Corporation. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, (MNRE) through their IMPRESS renewable energy initiative are the local implementing agency.
“The operation of this Biomass Gasification Plant will be managed by STEC. This is a decision made by the Cabinet according to terms and conditions outlined in the Electricity Act 2010; where electricity development can be provided by Independent Power Producers (other than EPC) if approved by the Office Of The Regulator (OOTR) through the establishment of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through this agreement, STEC will be selling electricity to EPC for an agreed upon reasonable price”.
