Results for Energy

A total powerstation blackout on Tongatapu for a few hours this morning, was caused by a temporary cooling system failure on the generators.

Tonga’s second Large scaled Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be built at Matatoa after an agreement was signed today between Tonga Power Limited and Akuo Energy SAS.

The price of electricity has increased starting today, 1 November, from $0.799 to $0.8316 per kWh, approved by the Electricity Commission. With the tarriff increase, Tonga Power Ltd. expects to recover $1.6 million over 12 months, to offset losses in fuel costs.

HM King Tupou VI switched on Tonga’s first wind farm, named Ii ‘o Manu Mataongo at Niutoua yesterday, 10 July. The 1.375 megawatt wind farm powered by five wind turbines, was built under a $42 million pa’anga Japanese aid project.

Tonga's Energy Minister Hon. Poasi Tei in Beijing, China, recently thanked the Government of China for donating the 2.25 Megawatt wind power station in Tongatapu under the Belt and Road Initiatives. Tonga is one of the 29 global membership of BREP, and the only representative from the Pacific.

Consumers will pay more for petrol, kerosene, and diesel with new prices approved by the Tonga Competent Authority, starting today, 18 March.

Tonga’s aim to reach 50% of renewable energy by 2020 is on track said Tonga Power Ltd CEO, Seti Chen. “The goal of renewable energy is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel (diesel),” he told Matangi Tonga, while they have seen growth in demand for power increasing more than they thought it would. He said one of the biggest misconceptions is people thinking their electricity bills will be reduced by 50% once the project is completed. “It’s not 50% off the tariff that will be reduced, it’s actually 50% off the diesel that we are displacing,” said Seti. By Eleanor Gee

The price of petrol has fallen, while diesel and kerosene prices have increased, as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority (TCA) for November – December, starting on 16 November 2018.

US$29.9 million funding for the Tonga Renewable Energy Project (TREP) was approved by the Green Climate Fund during its 21st Board Meeting in Bahrain on October 17.