More Fijians to Benefit from FEA Power Grid Projects
More than 75,00 households will have access to the Fiji Electricity Authority’s power grid by the end of this year. This was revealed yesterday by the Permanent Secretary for Public Enterprises David Kolitagane while making a submission to the Standing Committee on Economics Affairs on the FEA annual report 2016 at Parliament.
Plans for this year:
Mr Kolitagane said: “In the 2017/2018 National Budget, alone, the Department of Energy has been allocated $42 million for its rural electrification projects, an increase of over 50 per cent from 2016/2017 allocation.
“Out of this allocation, $32m has been allocated to the FEA grid extension Project.”
The increasing trend Mr Kolitagane said, shows Government’s commitment to achieve its targets of 100 per cent of electricity access and energy security.
The Prime Minister Voreqe Banimarama has been travelling to rural areas to commission some of grid extension projects. These include the Natauvoli Grid Extension in Naitasiri, Nasautoka grid extension in Wainibuka, Navuca and Sauva Grid Extension in Tailevu and Vunarewa Settlement, Nadi.
“This is part of the many grid extension projects that we will be commissioning this year.
“Our target is to connect an additional 7500 households to the grid by the end of 2018,” Mr Kolitagane said.
Questions were also directed to the Acting Director of Energy, Mikaele Belena and his team on the authority’s annual report for 2016 by the Committee on Economics Affairs.
Questions raised:
One of the questions asked was how realistic is the mission “we aim to provide clean and affordable energy solutions to Fiji with at least 90 per cent of the energy requirements through renewable sources by 2025”.
Mr Belena replied: “Yes, we will be able to achieve 90 per cent requirement by 2025.”
Mr Belena outlined:
■ The electricity generation mix for 2016 was 63.06 per cent hydro; 45.46 per cent industrial diesel oil (IDO); 0.39 per cent wind and 1.11 per cent Independent Power Producers (IPP) – Tropik Wood and FSC (Fiji Sugar Corporation)
■ Total installed capacity for 2016 was 316 Mega Watts (hydro-130MW, Biomass and wind – 21MW; diesel 164.9 MW)
■ The commissioning of the 12MW Nabou Biomass Plant in July, 2017 will increase the share of renewable energy in the overall generation mix
■ An expression of interest (EOI) was put out for the installation of 2MW-5MW solar hybrid in Qeleloa, Nadi and two companies have been shortlisted for this project.
■ FEA is also in the process of signing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Hydro Fiji for the construction of a 30MW hydro project in Namosi
■ The completion of the Monasavu Hydro project half-life repair and maintenance work will optimise its generating output.
■ Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) have carried out a feasibility study on hydro potential sites in Fiji and have identified three new hydro potential sites in Wailevu, Cakaudrove with installed capacity of (14.4MW); Ba River (12MW and Waivaka, Namosi (30MW).
In addition, the authority has carried out hydro feasibility studies for the Wailoa Downstream
■In order to achieve, the 90 per cent target FEA will need to engage with more prospective investors to develop these renewable energy resources.