Results for MEIDECC

Tonga's Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project for nine islands is now around 71% completed. It aims to help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuel for power generation by providing on-grid and off-grid generation solar power, reports MEIDECC's Department of Energy.

The remote island of Niuafo'ou has received 168 water tanks that were shipped on the MV Taka ‘i Pomana and the Ports Authority barge on June 11. The NZD$565,000 MFAT and Tindall Foundation funded project aims to ensure the community has access to safe drinking water.

A New Zealand grant of $30,000 pa’anga to plan the phase out of single use plastics was provided to Tonga today, 22 June.

A two-day training course for Maritime Radio Operators was held last week in Vava’u at the new Vavau Emergency Coordination Centre, which as opened on March 17. The course to certify operators included participants from government ministries and the community.

A new warehouse for the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) to safely stockpile goods to assist in times of disasters, was commissioned on February 16, at Poutaha.

Forty-five people repatriated from Fiji and Kiribati tested negative for CoViD-19 and are now in home quarantine for seven days after completing their 14 days quarantine at the Tanoa Hotel.

The 50 passengers to board the first repatriation flight from Auckland to Tonga will probably be selected next week, confirmed MEIDECC CEO, Paula Ma’u today, 17 June. “If that goes well, it depends on health and their analysis on whether we will increase the number and even the flights.” Otherwise at that rate, with about 7,000 Tongans overseas who want to return to Tonga, it might take years to repatriate everyone and quarantine will be costly. By Eleanor Gee.

One or two cyclones may be expected in Tongan waters, in the coming cyclone season (November-April) according to a weather outlook by Tonga's Meteorological Service. There is a high chance that one might be severe.

Consultation on the use of ocean and marine resources as well as marine spatial planning (MSP) is currently underway in Vava’u with the Minister for MEIDECC, Hon Poasi Tei, joining the team today, 19 October 2018.