Results for Business

Tonga's first small wind turbine project is expected to be commissioned by Tonga Power Ltd. at Lavengatonga on eastern Tongatapu in April, in a project that aims to collect data and provide experience in wind generation.

The first three solar powered street lights installed on Taufa'ahau Road are on a trial for three months to see whether they can help Tonga to reduce its cost of power and amount of fossil fuel for diesel generation.

The pull-out of Chathams-Pacific airline and the government plans to lease out two gifted aircraft has got businesses nervous over the uncertainty of ongoing domestic air services and their economic reliability.

No replacements have been made to fill two vacant directorship positions on Tonga's National Retirement Benefits Fund Board. The board operating with five directors will have their first meeting for the New Year in February.

Tonga's sole domestic inter-islands airline, the Chathams Pacific will discontinue its scheduled air services in Tonga on Saturday 3 March 2013, after less than five years operation, due to a loss of business confidence, after the Tonga government moved to procure aircraft from China.

Acquiring a business license in Tonga will now be easier under a new Business License Registration Regulation. It comes as part of parliament’s amendments to the Business Registration Act last year.

The government’s repayment of loans poses a fiscal challenge in 2013, this according to the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Economic Monitor.

The construction of Vava'u's first solar power plant to be built with a US$5 million grant from the Government of Abu Dhabi is on target for completion by October 2013. When the plant comes into operation it will provide 13 percent of the annual energy demands of Vava'u, while saving up to 180,000 litres of diesel fuel annually to reduce the cost of electricity.

Nuku'alofa's downtown Reload Bar opened a new upstairs lounge bar extension on December 13 ready for the holiday season.