IN the past five years from 2014 to the 2017/2018 budget, the Fijian Government has invested around $163million in rural electrification.
Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate noted this as he responded to a question on when local farmers who do not have access to electricity will be connected to the EFL power grid.
He said in Fiji, according to the Ministry of Agriculture farmer listing, there were a total of slightly more than 69,000 farmers all around the country – Central, Western, Northern Divisions, and most of those farmers had been assisted by the ministry through the rural electrification program.
However, he added that when they assisted the farmers, theyt also assisted those that lived around the farmers.
But of the $163m invested, Mr Usamate said $92.8m had been paid to EFL for the grid extension for 367 schemes for a total of 12,417 houses.
Some of the farming communities that have been assisted include:
- Seaqaqa farming communities in Macuata – 200 people;
- Malawai and Muanidevo Settlements in Dreketi – 500 people;
- Keiyasi to Vatubalavu and nearby communities in Navosa – more than 2100 people;
- Namau and Navala Villages in Ba – 1600 people; and
- Malabi toWaimicia Project in Wainibuka – around 3500 people.
He also noted the projects that are in progress:
- Waibau Settlement in Naitasiri – 376 people;
- Lomaivuna Settlement and nearby communities – 1148 people;
- Qiolevu Road in Naitasiri – 345 people;
- Tokaimalo District in Ra – 655 people;
- Vunivere, Vuimanuca community in Seaqaqa – 1000 people;
- Lagalaga Settlement in Labasa – 1320 people;
- Solove in Seaqaqa – 500 people.
Some of the 2018/2019 projects that have already been paid to EFL to start with the design and construction later on include the:
- Nalawa District in Nasau, Rakiraki – 3000 people;
- Lalakoro, Vunimako, Rokosalase and Dagau in Seaqaqa – 715 people;
- Weilagi to Naselesele Village in Taveuni – 1475 people; and
- Naikelikoso and Wainikoro in Labasa – 510 people.
Mr Usamate said the Government had allocated an additional $47m for the construction of 176 schemes.
“So, in the next three years, the Government has set a target to connect an additional 2500 houses, roughly around 12,500 people to the grid annually,” he said.
“Most of these are in rural areas and this is part of our striving to achieve our target of achieving 100 per cent access to electricity by the year 2021.”
