Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel has warned that Fiji’s solar market remains vulnerable to the entry of substandard or unsuitable products because of gaps in national regulations and certification systems.
Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Immanuel said the Government was working with key stakeholders to strengthen oversight and improve quality assurance measures for imported solar equipment.
He explained that while Fiji currently follows international standards and best practices for low-voltage electrical and solar systems, the country does not yet have comprehensive national standards, certification requirements, or enforcement mechanisms specifically for solar products.
“As a result, there is a risk that poor-quality or unsuitable solar products could enter the local market,” he said.
Mr Immanuel said discussions were underway to review appropriate standards frameworks and assess enforcement and compliance systems aimed at improving regulation of imported solar units.
He added that the Ministry of Energy would conduct a study to determine the regulations and standards needed for solar products in Fiji. The goal, he said, was to ensure solar equipment sold in the country was safe, reliable, suitable for local conditions, and aligned with international best practices.
