Page 24 - IB Nov 2017

Climate change Mistrust The difficult era in Fiji’s turbu- Colonialism Where the church went
lent history: P26
wrong: P27

From Page 33

The green growth framework sets the
target to approach 100 per cent renewable
energy by 2030, and to support those
kind of targets, GGGI in Fiji has developed
two pre-feasibility studies for the islands
of Ovalau and Taveuni to see what is the
pathway to get those islands to a 100 per
cent renewable energy that would contrib-
ute to the NDC target.
“We will be doing a full feasibility
study for Taveuni to see how we can best
integrate solar energy to the existing
hydro and diesel system, so those are
the necessary steps taken in order for it
to be implemented in the future,” said
Syngellakis.
“You need to know what the technical
and economic parameters are to imple-
ment a renewable energy project, and
to also finance it from public or private
funding – whichever is most appropriate.”
Fiji and a lot of other Pacific Island
countries face a lot challenges in terms of
financing, capacity building, the long sup- Above: The Somosomo hydro electricity plant which is powered by the island’s waterways. Below: The Monasavu hydro
ply chain to get the equipment here makes dam which supplies electricity across Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. Photos: FEA
things more expensive, but compared to
many countries around the world, even
to other states, Syngellakis says Fiji has a
very good percentage of renewable energy
in their system.
“Thanks to Monasavu (Hydro Plant)
– an older investment but there’s been
continuous investment in renewable en-
ergy such as the Nadarivatu hydro power
plant, the Somosomo plant, the biomass,
the recent biomass – now there’s increas-
ingly more solar installations being put in
by the private sector – so Fiji is making
steady progress within the constraints of
its economy, and within the constraints of increase its resilience as the world works essential service centres - this is what
the resources available.”
toward reaching and then maintaining a builds true resilience – a holistic approach
net-zero carbon world. where mitigation and adaptation efforts
This was highlighted by Fiji’s High Level are not taken in isolation but serve to
Energy efficiency Climate Champion, Minister Inia Seruiratu complement each other.”
Another area that GGGI is going to be in his address at the “Small Island Devel- Seruiratu added that whilst there will
looking at in the future is energy effi- oping States responding to climate impacts be push to continue for more ambitious
ciency. Fiji already has one of the longest and planning for sustainable future. contributions and actions from the big
running system for plants labeling for Leadership, Innovation and Partnership” emitters, “the vulnerable small island
refrigerators running since 2012. Syn- meeting in New York last month. states will use our NDCs as a lever to
gellakis says GGGI will look at how that “For us as small island nations, we need increase support and strengthen means
can be built upon, and how more private to optimise the technologies and initiatives of implementation.”
sector can do energy auditing, upgrading brought to our islands, we need to ensure “This is why the COP23 Presidency
equipment and implementing energy ef- that synergies are created between adap- is calling for increased support to Small
ficiency actions. tation and mitigation technologies and Island Developing States for the en-
initiatives – so that local communities get hancement and the implementation of
maximum benefit from either initiative,” their NDCs - this should contribute to the
Building resilience he said. strengthening of our resiliency, and to not
While Fiji is gaining momentum in tak- “For instance, a solar energy project in focusing on emissions reduction alone.”
ing steps to meet its targets, the country the islands needs to extend it services to r priyameyou@gmail.com
is also equally focused on the need to health centre facilities, schools and other

24 Islands Business, November 2017