World Bank team visits Tonga to support energy projects [1]
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 17:22. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
A World Bank Energy Sector Mission Team visited Tonga on September 20-23 to discuss and advance the preparation of a proposed World Bank and Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) under the Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM).
The team was led by Wendy Hughes Energy Specialist included Tendai Gregan an Energy Specialist focussing on the petroleum supply chain, Martin Swales Engineer and Financial Analyst, Paul Faulton Renewable Energy and Grid Integration specialist, Pene Ferguson Environmental Specialist and Wolfgang Mostert a renewable energy and financing specialist.
TERM
Wendy said today that the proposed TERM Implementation project to be supported jointly by the World Bank and the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility aims to support the Government of Tonga and Tonga Power Ltd in implementing key aspects of TERM. The focus would be on areas where other development partners are not already engaged.
She said the purpose of the World Bank mission to Tonga last week was to discuss and agree on the proposed scope of assistance in:
strengthening the Energy (electricity and petroleum) sector framework and structure; establishing the Tonga Green Incentive Fund to simplify and attract additional concessional financing for future renewable energy investments; 3) Preparing Tonga Power Ltd to effectively manage and use renewable energy supply.
The proposed implementing agencies would be the TERM Implementation Unit and Tonga Power Ltd. While the World Bank will assist the Government of Tonga in developing an Environment and Social Management Framework to ensure the Government of Tonga has laws and processes and World Bank policies in these areas.
Energy
Wendy clarified that World Bank has worked with the Government of Tonga and other development partners over the past two years to develop and begin implementation of the TERM.
She said efficient and effective energy is critical for the people of Tonga and will help bring better energy services to homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.
The objective of TERM is to reduce Tonga's vulnerability to oil price shocks and achieve an increase in quality access to modern energy services in an environmentally sustainable manner. TERM outlines a package initiatives to meet this objective including improvements in the petroleum supply chain, petroleum price risk management options, increased efficiency in producing and using electricity, and diversifying sources of electricity supply from diesel generation to include supply from domestic renewable sources, she added.
Power
Tonga Power Ltd was one of the first to meet with the World Bank Mission Team and TERM IU on their first day in Tonga on
September 21. Tonga Power Ltd CEO Peter McGill said their meeting discussed a variety of projects to assist with the Kingdom's energy sector.
He said in particular was a scope of works for the World Bank to provide technical assistance to the Tonga Power Ltd to prepare its distribution network for multi on-grid renewable energy sources was discussed. This would help to lower the electricity fuel tariff over the next five years onwards.
The mission team also met representatives from Government including TERM IU Interim Director 'Emeline Tuita and all government agencies with responsibilities in aspects of petroleum regulation and supply chain as well as representatives of other development partners, civil society and private sector.