The New Zealand High Commissioner HE Ms Tiffany Babington signed a NZ$11 million grant funding arrangement for the upgrade of Nuku’alofa’s electricity network with the Acting Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu yesterday, 16 May.

The project will be implemented in partnership with Tonga Power Ltd over the next two years, and benefit over 2000 households and businesses in Kolomotu’a and Kolofo’ou.         

The Tonga government estimated that Cyclone Gita had inflicted US$46 million damages on its energy sector and it has requested for financial assistance from the New Zealand and the Australian Governments, and the Asian Development Bank.

The High Commissioner also presented Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu with NZ$3 million to replenish the Tongatapu village Network Upgrade supplies that were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita.                                                       

She said that “New Zealand hopes this NZ$14 million investment will assist the Government of Tonga to meet its energy targets.”

New Zealand has provided grant funding of NZ$27.7 million which will enable 11,188 households to be connected to a network built to New Zealand’s standards by December 2018.