Results for Shoreline Power Ltd.

As a Director of the Tonga Electric Power Board I am very much aware of Government'’s role and duty in ensuring that electric power, as an essential utility, is supplied in a continuous and uninterrupted manner.- Paul Karalus

Mr. Tuaileva's letter comes to no surprise at the situation of Tonga's electricity today. The electricity rates have increased and the Government has got its hands twisted in a very embarrassing conflict of interest case with the Shoreline issue. The Government is apparently what they call a "State within a State", whereby Tonga'’s national assets are run and owned by the King'’s siblings. If this were a private company owned by a commoner as we have seen with the Domestic Airline license battle then it would have been a totally different story. -William Mariner

The argument in Parliament at present centres around the size of the electricity price hike - which is the short-term issue. But alongside should be a more sustained discussion on the long-term solution to power supply. Tonga is not on its own on this issue as many countries are just as vulnerable as we are. But it's time like this that size does matter and for once - small is beautiful. Oil is a non-renewable source and as it dwindles at source, the price will continue to climb. There are alternatives abound which we should now consider seriously.

In the past couple of months, I went on a self-imposed sabbatical trying to find myself. Despite my honest effort to stay away, this twenty million dollar ransom demanded by the Crown Prince and his band of robbers begged that I return. In return for their demand, Shoreline will be returned to its rightful owner, the public. What a gutsy move for a daylight unarmed robbery. - Tama Foa

The loan is only a consideration as any wise government must have a Plan B in place in the event that Plan A (private sector / govt-private partnership) does not work. It may enlighten some to appreciate that Price Waterhouse Coopers is currently being engaged to assist in the process of appraising the company...’s assets to assist in setting the appropriate and fair figure for the transfer from Shoreline and subsequently the loan amount only if that option will be taken. - Sailosi Finau

The call for the return of the power generation from Shoreline to government or the private sector should focus on the anticipation that Tonga will have a fairer, more transparent and just power industry. Perhaps service deliveries may improve too. Cheaper electricity is something else and I am afraid it won...’t help to mislead people now that the electricity will be cheaper only by taking it away from Shoreline. - Sailosi Finau

The fiasco concerning Shoreline and its operation is a dilemma created by the government themselves. From your article of the same (8 April), it is clear that both the government and Shoreline operatives have collided with their various public statements, and in turn raises many questions. Shoreline is now returning the favor, giving the government the first option to buy back the electricity business. -Jason Faletau

The Chairman of Shoreline Power, Crown Prince Tupouto'a, this morning, May 25, offered to return Tonga's electric power operation to government in return for a large settlement of an amount to be assessed.

Tonga's sole supplier of electricity, the Shoreline Power Group, is investing $13 million to upgrade its power generation capacity and its distribution network.