The ownership of the La’a Lahi Solar Farm in Neiafu was today transferred from the Government of Tonga to Tonga Power Ltd, a public enterprise in Nuku’alofa.

The 500 KWh solar farm, which can save up to 300,000 litres of diesel per year, was funded with $4.7 million pa’anga by the United Arabs Emirates (UAE). It was commissioned and handed over to the Tonga government, in November 2013.

The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni signed the ownership transference with Robert Matthews the CEO of Tonga Power Ltd, to operate.

Hon. Sovaleni who is also the Minister of Environment, Information, Disaster Management, Communication and Climate Change, said Tonga is burdened with high power costs, unreliable, unsecure and expensive fuel supply that also pollutes the environment. He said the transfer of the ownership is an important phase in the Tonga Energy Roadmap (TERM).

TERM is a comprehensive document covering all aspects of the power sector with clear objectives for 2020, that includes 50 percent of Tonga’s power demand to be generated from renewable energy sources.

He also said that the ownership included conditions, which included passing on savings to electricity consumers.

Tonga'a Power"s new CEO Matthews said the facility would go a long way in meeting TERM's objectives. “It is an important state of the art facility and I thank the good work of the people at Tonga Power and aid donor countries in bringing this facility to a reality."

The Minister of Public Enterprises Hon. Poasi Tei and ‘Inoke Vala of TERM were also present at the signing.