Knut Ostby, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme in Fiji at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi yesterday. Photo SHEIK DEAN
By SHEIK DEAN
The review of Fiji’s Energy Policy was one of the major highlights of the first Small Island Developing States (SIDS) DOCK Pacific Regional Meeting yesterday.
The meeting was held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.
Fiji is currently reviewing the Energy Policy through the assistance of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A draft energy policy is due in June and the final policy is expected to be released in August 2013.
After this the Government will work on putting in place the relevant laws for the energy sector.
The meet showed positive outcome for the betterment of Fiji in areas of renewable energy and bio-fuel projects.
Director of Energy, Peceli Nakavulevu, said transitioning of the energy sector to renewable energy and high energy efficiency, fuel imports would be minimised and significant resources would become available to address climate change adaptation.
“Our energy sector in 2008 spent in excess of $1.2 billion importing fuels, and that equates to a quarter of our total import,” he said.
Mr Nakavulevu confirmed Fiji would be participating in the next SIDS DOCK meeting to be hosted in Samoa next year.
About SIDS DOCK
SIDS DOCK is an initiative among member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). It hopes to provide the Small Island Developing States with a collective institutional mechanism.
This would assist them transform their national energy sectors into a catalyst for sustainable economic development and help generate financial resources to address adaptation to climate change.