6 July Rarotonga Cook Islands - Renewable energy is fast becoming the new buzz term for the Pacific region. Not only will renewable energy help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere it also has financial savings for Pacific communities.
A USD 5.23 million dollar renewable energy project for 11 Pacific island countries is currently executed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Known as PIGGAREP (The Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project), this project aims at helping the Pacific islands overcome their barriers to using effective renewable energy technologies.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and is implemented by United Nations Development Programme.
PIGGAREP is now in its fourth year and according to Project Manager Sili'a Kilepoa Ualesi, its' progress in the Pacific region is varied. Some Pacific island countries are faster than others in accessing the funds available to help carry out renewable energy projects at national level.
"Over the past four years there has been change of staff at national level for several countries so this week we hope to bring everyone up to speed and on the same page with project proposal writing for the PIGGAREP funds. The process of submitting proposals is the first step to accessing financial assistance on renewable energy activities."
SPREP has partnered with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for a Project Proposal Writing Workshop in the Cook Islands this week. The 'writeshop' will help over 40 participants prepare proposals to access PIGGAREP and the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Funds.
The PEC Fund, administered by the Forum Secretariat, is a commitment by the Government of Japan of ¥6.8 billion (approx US$66 million) to support FIC projects with a focus on the provision of solar power generation systems and sea water desalination plants, or a combination of both.
PIGGAREP will undergo the multi-partite review meeting in October this year this is an evaluation of the performance of the project over the past four years with a view to seeking ways to improve. It will also be the opportunity to discuss and plan future work for the PIGGAREP countries.
Two Pacific island countries that have committed all their allocated funds under the PIGGAREP are the Solomon Islands and Samoa. These two nations have worked with co-financers to carry out renewable energy feasibility projects as well as renewable energy activities on the ground. SPREP will work with the remaining PIGGAREP countries to help drive their renewable energy activities.
Countries that are part of the PIGGAREP are the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.