More than 8,200 households across Fiji are awaiting solar home system assistance and other electrification services, with demand continuing to exceed the Government’s current delivery capacity.
The Standing Committee on Economic Affairs revealed this in its Inquiry Report on Rural Electrification in Fiji, tabled in Parliament last week.
The committee found that 8,232 households were awaiting assistance, highlighting a growing backlog of applications, particularly in remote and maritime communities.
“With 8,232 households currently awaiting Solar Home System assistance and other electrification services, demand continues to exceed current delivery capacity,” the committee stated.
It said the backlog demonstrated the need for a long-term strategy to clear outstanding applications and improve electricity access across the country.
The committee also raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the progress of rural electrification projects.
It found that information on project approval dates, implementation status, expenditure, contractor performance and expected completion timelines was not readily available to affected communities and other stakeholders.
“Limited transparency contributes to community frustration, inconsistent information sharing and reduced public confidence in programme delivery,” the report stated.
The inquiry also revealed that prolonged delays in implementing rural electrification projects had resulted in significant cost increases.
The committee said projects remaining incomplete over extended periods were becoming more expensive because of revised quotations, rising material costs and changing construction requirements.
“Prolonged delays in project implementation have contributed to significant cost increases for a number of rural electrification projects,” it stated.
The committee warned that these additional costs were placing pressure on future programme budgets and reducing the number of electrification projects that could be funded each year.
The findings highlight the challenges facing Fiji’s rural electrification programme as thousands of households continue to wait for electricity access while project delays and rising costs put further pressure on available resources.
