Solar powered drilling of boreholes could be a standard route the Mineral Resources Department takes to install new water sources in rural areas.
In Parliament on Monday, Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Filimoni Vosarogo said this was part of their move to turn to renewable energy to carry out these rural projects as they aim to establish 1700 boreholes.
“The target of 1700 is going to be helped by this new technology that we have gotten from Australia,” he said.
“That is a target. It is ambitious, but I think it does represent the need of areas where Water Authority of Fiji does not have network as well.
“With the pumps, most of our drilling sites now are operated through renewable energy because some of these areas also do not have electrification through EFL.
“So, there is a huge push for solarisation to power the pumps.”
Mr Vosarogo was responding to Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma who called for a more sustainable approach to the borehole drilling works.
Meanwhile, Opposition MP Jone Usamate also raised a point on whether Fiji has information on how many groundwater sites in the country and the volume each site had.
In response, Mr Vosarogo said the high-tech equipment from Australia would be able to provide all of the necessary information for aquifers and groundwater for government officials.
