FIJI’S Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate says the provision of affordable and reliable electricity supply is at the heart of economic development of any country in the world and Fiji is of no exception.
Mr Usamate said 96 per cent of the Fijian population now accessed electricity.
While commissioning the Dreketi Electricity Grid Extension Project in Macuata yesterday, he said over the past five years, the Government had given funding of $224million towards the energy sector.
“As the minister responsible for electrification, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a massive expansion of access to electric power across the country,” Mr Usamate said.
“This includes towns, communities, and some of our most remote maritime and deep rural pockets of Fiji. Our most recent census shows we’ve expanded electricity access to 96 per cent of the population, with nearly 80 per cent of the population who are connected to our national grid.
“That’s a historic amount of funding with 70 per cent gone directly to the funding of rural electrification projects.
“Today you are embarking on a great journey. One that will propel the lives of your people for generations towards a higher standard of living. And I assure you that this government will be there to support your aspirations with more development, more services and more opportunity for every family in your community.”
