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Pacific News Minute: World Bank Finds 80% of Pacific Islanders Lack Access to Electricity

Jenny Scott / Flickr
Jenny Scott / Flickr

Debate on the future of electricity in Hawaii continues following the decision by the PUC earlier this summer to reject HECO's proposed merger with NextEra.  In particular over how to reach the goal of 100% renewable generation by 2045.  But, as we hear from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute, the situation for many of our pacific island neighbors is much more basic.

80% of the peoples of Pacific Island Countries have no electricity in the homes. 80%! Last week, an official from the World Bank told a meeting of the Pacific Power Association in Tonga, that of the overall population of 9 million, just 2 million have electricity in their households. In addition, Kamleshwar Khelawan noted that the price if that electricity is among the highest in the world.

Khelawan, a senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank, told the gathering of 200 delegates from across the Pacific that those sobering numbers reflect very low access rates in three big countries: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.  Together, they make up almost 90% of the region's population. Even so, Khelawan said all Pacific Islands share the same problems "the Pacific countries lack or have limited indigenous energy resources," he said, "while the high cost of imported fossil fuels means that Pacific Islands require an increased focus on alternative sources." He described solar and wind as the main renewable sources, but also noted hydropower potential in the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa and PNG, and geothermal potential in PNG, Vanuatu and Fiji.

But the World Bank Specialist quickly added another common problem: governments lack the money for these investments, and lack the legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks to build confidence among private investors and outside donors.

Over 36 years with National Public Radio, Neal Conan worked as a correspondent based in New York, Washington, and London; covered wars in the Middle East and Northern Ireland; Olympic Games in Lake Placid and Sarajevo; and a presidential impeachment. He served, at various times, as editor, producer, and executive producer of All Things Considered and may be best known as the long-time host of Talk of the Nation. Now a macadamia nut farmer on Hawaiʻi Island, his "Pacific News Minute" can be heard on HPR Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
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