A $1million French Government donation was set to bring solar-powered electricity to more than 170 families at Naroi on Moala in Lau in what was described at the time as Fiji’s largest solar power project.
The development was reported by The Fiji Times on June 2, 1998, as the Department of Energy prepared to introduce non-polluting solar generators to the remote island community.
The project was expected to begin in early October 1998, with families at Naroi Village due to have access to solar-powered electricity by Christmas that year.
The Department of Energy said the project was the largest of its kind undertaken in Fiji at the time.
French officials, a consulting group and the Department of Energy had been working together on the project since 1995.
The solar generators were expected to have a lifespan of more than 20 years, although their batteries would need to be replaced every eight to 10 years.
The systems converted sunlight directly into electricity and had no moving parts, producing little noise and requiring minimal maintenance.
As the project was being funded by the French Government, only French companies operating within the region were invited to submit proposals.
Solar energy was already being used in Fiji and other Pacific countries, particularly in remote communities where connection to main electricity grids was not available.
It was also considered suitable for areas where transporting and storing fuel was difficult.
For Naroi, the project represented an opportunity to provide reliable electricity to households without relying on conventional fuel-based power systems.
The planned solar installation was expected to improve access to electricity for the community while demonstrating the potential of renewable energy in Fiji’s remote islands.
