Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano at a ground-breaking ceremony held at Kanokupolu. 27 November 2013.

The power distribution network for 33 rural villages in Tongatapu will be upgraded over the next five-years with over $38 million pa'anga, in the continuation of a Tonga Village Network Upgrade Project.

Funded by the New Zealand Government, a ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of the work for stages two and three was held on 27 November at Kanokupolu, attended by the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano.

The event also marked the completion of the project's first stage that was initially funded with $7.9 million pa'anga and upgraded power supply of low voltage networks and service connections to 17 villages in Tongatapu.

The work on Stage One started on January 2012 and completed in July 2013.

The Minister for Public Enterprises Hon. Fe’ao Vakata said under stage one residents in the villages had received new low voltage networks and service connections to their homes and premises, and over 2,400 customers of Tonga Power have benefited.

Tonga Power had also invested in the upgrade of the high voltage networks and transformers in each village.

“The project has reduced the distribution losses, showing a small saving on diesel costs and has cut the number of voltage outages to almost zero. More importantly the people in each of the villages now have a first class electricity network that is safe and reliable."

He said the next two-stages would upgrade and renew the low voltage and high voltage networks of 33 villages, including larger communities of Nukunuku, Fua‘amotu and Vaini and over 7,000 families and businesses would benefit from this project.

Over five-years the project is expected to inject over $38 million pa'anga into the electricity infrastructure.

"A reliable and cost effective electricity supply is crucial to the economic wellbeing of our nation. Much of the focus internationally and in Tonga has been on developing renewable forms of electricity generation and on the savings that can be made by displacing diesel as a fuel for electricity supply, a healthy distribution network is crucial element in the electricity supply chain."

The Minister thanked the New Zealand Government for delivering on promises and affirms their commitment to stand alongside and support the people of Tonga.

Support

The New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mr. Mark Talbot said New Zealand wanted to help boost sustainable economic development in Tonga by supporting the productive sectors of the economy and the critical enablers that make an economy tick, like power and that is why New Zealand was in partnership with the Government of Tonga in the energy sector.

He said the Tongan Government had been committed to building a more robust, efficient electricity system. “We want to put our money where our mouth is in promoting sustainable economic development.  So we have invested $54 million pa'anga in Tonga’s energy sector in the past four-years,” he said.

New Zealand recognised Tonga as a trailblazer in renewable energy.

He said the ambitious target set under the Tonga Energy Roadmap of 50% renewable energy by 2020 showed true vision and leadership.

"New Zealand is making deep investments in renewable energy here in Tonga with the flagship project being the solar power plant commissioned at Popua last year and already solar is responsible for 4% of Tongatapu’s daily energy needs.

“To help you achieve the ambitious goal of 50% renewable energy by 2020, New Zealand is supporting Tonga in taking wind and biomass generation projects forward to feasibility studies.  If these projects stack up, we stand ready to invest in them."

The work is expected to start in January 2014 to be completed in September 2018 on both stages.

Vava'u Solar Farm

Two days before the ground-breaking ceremony for the launching of Stages Two and Three of the Tonga Village Network Upgrade Project, the commissioning of a new United Arabs Emirates UAE funded solar farm was celebrated in Vava'u.

The USD$4 million 500KWH Solar Farm is expected to produce enough energy to cover about 13% of Vava'u's annual electricity demand.