Four new bucket trucks were added to Tonga Power Ltd’s vehicle fleet to help upgrade the electricity distribution network of 33 villages in Tongatapu over the next five-years.

The trucks were handed over on Monday, March 10 under a Tonga Village Network Upgrade Project funded by the New Zealand Government with $22.2 million (NZD).

HE Mark Talbot, the New Zealand High Commissioner said the Tonga Village Upgrade Project was a fantastic project being implemented by Tonga Power Ltd. It would help to reduce line losses and reduce Tonga’s reliance on diesel for electricity generation.

“The linesmen have done a professional job with rebuilding the entire power network in Ha’apai after the cyclone in January which gives us confidence about the efficiency of the Tonga Village Project, it will be improved with these new trucks.”

Compared to the three existing trucks, the new bucket trucks are bigger and of higher reach, being capable of reaching upwards of 13 metres.

Neil Jones the project leader said the trucks would provide more support to the line crews as work continued in the villages of Kanokupolu and Nukunuku, and up to Masilamea.

Tonga Power CEO John van Brink said they were pleased to start stage two of the project after completing the upgrade of the electricity network to 17 villages last year.

Over the next five-years the project would continue working towards 33 villages, he said.

The Minister for Public Enterprises Hon Fe'ao Vakata received the trucks from the New Zealand High Commissioner at the Small Industries Centre in Nuku'alofa.