OVALAU, TO GENERATE HALF OF ISLAND’S ENERGY
The $ 20 million solar Agrophotovoltaic Project in Bureta Village on Ovalau will generate half of the island’s energy needs once operational.
This was revealed as the AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum led a delegation to Bureta where the project site will be implemented. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, along with the Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar, Government officials, heads of missions and their team visited sites on historical Levuka, the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO), including the project site. The Vanua of Bureta village expressed its excitement and eagerness to be part of the project that would bring ‘green energy’ to the island.
Bureta Development Committee secretary, Sereana Qoro spoke on behalf of the villagers.
She said the seven hectares of land that had been designated as the site for the project sat on freehold land and was registered under a Trustee.
“We the people of Bureta are happy and excited about the project for the green energy it will generate for Ovalau and we are much more excited about the agricultural aspect of the project,” Ms Qoro said. “We understand that the project will introduce climate-smart agricultural technique and our people are looking forward to learning more about it.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “This is a first for Fiji so again you are part of the first where we are going to have solar panels put up across the land but beneath that, we will be able to use it for agricultural purposes. “This is new technology and this is also better utilisation of land,”
This is new technology and this is also better utilisation of land.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Attorney-General and Minister for Economy
he told the villagers of Bureta.
Funding
The project is funded through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) US$5m (FJ$10m) through the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) that has itself contributed FJ$1m while the Korean Government’s aid agency Korean International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) has given a grant of US$4m (FJ$8.4m).
The diplomatic corp comprised:
■ Head of Pacific Delegation for the European Union Sujiro Seam,
Ambassador of the United States to Fiji Joseph Cella,
■ British High Commissioner to Fiji Christopher George Edgar,
New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr,
■ Deputy High Commissioner of Australia to Fiji Anna Dorney,
First Secretary for Development Co-operation for the Embassy of Japan and the KOICA director Jinhee Kim