Bula! On June 19th, 2023 in Suva, Fiji, Mana Pacific signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Last Light Fiji Pte Ltd, as well as the Mataqali Rara, Mataqali Nakorolevu, and Mataqali Nabonubonu tribes to develop community solar. This marks a significant stride in advancing towards Fiji’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030.
This collaborative agreement specifically addresses the challenges related to energy costs and climate change, with a focus on enhancing the well-being of the Mataqali tribal communities on the main island of Viti Levu.
At the heart of these MOUs are visionary ‘Pilot’ Community Solar Projects (CSPs), and are strategically designed to benefit the Mataqali as well as Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) and its ratepayers. These projects not only align with Fiji’s renewable energy mandates but also serve as catalysts for competitive rates, enhanced energy resiliency, and renewable-powered energy independence. Explicitly, the purpose of these community solar projects is to provide clean energy to the local community at a lower cost than the current rate, reducing the overall burden on rate-payers and existing government subsidies. Simultaneously, the projects will enhance energy resiliency by stabilizing the grid and enabling the integration of additional renewable energy resources, particularly during natural disaster scenarios.
The MOU signing ceremony and the executed signatures of these three parties symbolize a collective commitment to diligently work together towards the outlined objectives and mutually support the development of community solar projects on Viti Levu, Fiji. This effort will both contribute to the advancement of renewable energy development for the entire country, as well as help unlock the democratizing power of community solar for the Mataqali Rara, Mataqali Nakorolevu, and Mataqali Nabonubonu tribes.
Vinaka.
