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Tonga to build South Pacific's largest solar plant under PSDI supported PPP
Tonga Power CEO Setitaia Chen shakes hands with Sunergise New Zealand Director Ajay Raniga following the signing of the power purchase agreement.
A PSDI-supported public-private partnership signed in Nuku’alofa yesterday will see the largest solar plant in the south Pacific built in Tonga.
PSDI provided transaction support for the tender process of the power purchase agreement signed by Tonga Power Limited and Sunergise New Zealand.
“This transaction demonstrates the appropriateness of renewable energy PPPs in the Pacific, and the value for money that can be achieved by running a fully transparent and competitive tender process,” said the Regional Director of ADB’s South Pacific Subregional Office Mr. Masayuki Tachiiri.
“It has resulted in a very competitive feed-in tariff for TPL, and establishes a benchmark for future power generation PPP transactions across the region.”
The 6-megawatt solar farm is expected to be operating by April 2020 and will provide around 15% of Tonga’s energy needs.
Pictured (left to right) at the signing of the power purchase agreement between Tonga Power and Sunergise New Zealand are Kilisimasi Ma’asi from the Tonga Electricity Commission; Sione ‘Uta’atu from the Ministry of Public Enterprises; ADB Senior Energy Specialist Woo Yul Lee; a representative from Sunergise; Tonga Power CEO Setitaia Chen; Sunergise Director Ajay Raniga; Ministry of Public Enterprises CEO Sione ‘Akau'ola; New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Elena Procuta; Australian High Commission Second Secretary Chantelle Boland; Australian High Commission Senior Project Manager Jeanette Tionetoa; and Ofa Sefana, Energy Planning Specialist with the Ministry of Meteorolgoy, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications.
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