People in over 1,000 households and in 30 commercial and government offices on Ha ‘apai in the Kingdom of Tonga, will benefit from more efficient energy networks thanks to a TOP 2.3 million (€1 million) grant from the European Union. The funds will be released to the Government of Tonga as part of cyclone rehabilitation efforts. The island of Haapai sustained serious damage and significant power losses following Cyclone Ian in early 2014 when its energy grid was badly affected after 90 percent of the power lines on the island were damaged. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency are critical sectors for Tonga, a country that spends millions in imports of petroleum products. The supply of reliable and clean energy becomes even more important in a cyclone-prone country like Tonga. The support extended to Ha ‘apai will not only help reduce the cost of providing electricity to the population but will also ensure that energy systems are made more resilient to extreme weather conditions. 2015 is the European Year of Development and we are stepping up our efforts to capture and document real, meaningful impacts of the EUs work on the ground. Our efforts to support Ha ‘apai in these difficult circumstances are, I believe, are an excellent example of real results and close collaboration with the people and the government of the Kingdom of Tonga, EU Ambassador for the Pacific, Andrew Jacobs said. He made the comments during the grant signing ceremony in Nukualofa today with the Lord Prime Minister, Hon. Akilisi Pohiva. Ambassador Jacobs is in Tonga this week to meet with the Lord Prime Minister, Hon. Akilisi Pohiva and the newly-elected Tonga government, reinforce relationships with development partners and sign-off on the latest European Union grants to support development projects in Tonga. #EYD2015
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:55:38 +0000
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