Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL) is preparing for the possibility of a Super El Nino event that could bring a prolonged dry spell to the region and place additional pressure on the country’s electricity supply system.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs this week, EFL chief executive officer Fatiaki Gibson said they were closely monitoring weather forecasts while also managing the impact of ongoing fuel supply uncertainties.
“We are also preparing for this phenomenon that we are hearing from the specialist, which is the Super El Nino,” Mr Gibson said.
“So we have this fuel crisis, but we also have this phenomenon. And for us, the science is saying that this region, the West Pacific, will undergo a prolonged dry season.”
His comments came following concerns over lower water levels at the Monasavu Dam.
While recent rainfall has provided some relief, Mr Gibson warned that weather patterns could shift, delaying the arrival of the next wet season.
“We’ve had rain in June, but we are conscious that instead of the rain coming in, say, November, December, it might be prolonged.
“The only thing that’s going for us, is that the load of the demand is low at this moment because of the cold weather.
“But as we get towards the latter part of this year, with the heat coming in, the demand starts to increase.”
He said EFL was focused on ensuring it had sufficient generation capacity to meet future demand.
