Australia has joined a team of three in Tonga’s capital city of Nuku’alofa and the ADB (Asian Development Bank) to produce a solar power system on the outer islands of Tonga in an attempt to supply the country with a clean energy solution.
Currently Tonga has an electricity problem, as 90% of their needs are created by importing diesel fuel. This has created a huge burden onto Tonga’s electricity consumers. The new solar plant hopes to reduce this pressure as well as Tonga’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Tonga will be contributing $300,000, the ADB $2 million, and the Australian Agency for International Development will add another $4.5 million, brining the combined investment to $6.8 million. Again increasing Australia’s reputation in being a benchmark in creating solar energy solutions.
The project will be implemented over a 6-year period with an estimated completion date of December 2019.
