New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mr Mark Talbot and Tonga's Minister of Finance Hon. Lisiate ‘Akolo.

The power distribution network of villages in Tongatapu will be upgraded in the continuation of a Tonga Village Network Upgrade Project funded by New Zealand with $32 million pa’anga, its single biggest energy commitment in the Pacific to date.

The agreement to continue stages two and three of the project was signed by the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mr Mark Talbot and Tonga's Minister of Finance Hon. Lisiate ‘Akolo on September 23, in Nuku’alofa

At $32 million pa’anga over five-years, the Tonga Village Network Upgrade Project is the largest development project ever in Tonga and it is New Zealand's single biggest energy commitment anywhere in the Pacific so far, said Mr Talbot.

Once completed the project should reduce line losses and deliver in excess of 200,000 litres of diesel savings per year and improve lines safety from which 7,600 Tonga Power customers should be better off.

Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo thanked the New Zealand Government for the aid that will make possible the improvement of power distribution in Tongatapu.

Safety

Tonga Power Ltd. announced that stage two of the project will upgrade the lower voltage electricity network of 33 villages, including total reticulation of low voltage networks to international standard where the design for each village will allow for the availability of supply to the latest land and survey data, so that a land owner can apply for a new connection that is safe and reliable if they decide to build on the new land.

"The main benefit is residential safety will be enhanced, the risk of electrocution reduced and also the risk of house fires in Tongatapu."

Implemented by Tonga Power, the project is expected to reduce Tonga’s electricity cost of around 2 seniti per unit when complete.

Stage one held from June 2011 to August 2013 was funded with $7.7 million pa'anga by New Zealand.