13th January 2017 Officials from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ministry of MEIDECC, Tonga Power Limited, Ministry of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Finance and National Planning today signed the MoD (Minutes of Discussions) at the JICA’s office, Nuku’alofa in response to the designed grid-connected wind power generation 1.375MW was requested by the Government of Tonga to the Government of Japan in August 7, 2014.
The JICA Wind Project in Tonga aims to introduce renewable energy and diversify the power supply sources by installation of wind power generation system and grid stabilization system in Tongatapu, thereby contributing to stable energy supply. For higher level objective 50% of electricity generation from renewable energy will be achieved by 2020 and which will help the Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) to reach its objective and significant tariff reductions.
Both JICA and the Government of Tonga confirmed the site of the project will be in Niutoua, Tongatapu. The project will procure the 1.375MW wind power generation system in Niutoua, including stabilization system, connection of electric cable to existing grid, and optical cable, to achieve the energy security by increasing of the ratio of renewable energy in Tonga and ensuring the quality of electric power. 5 units of 275Kw wind turbine towers will be installed under this project. It is estimated that 4,296, 000 kWh per year will be produced and injected to the grid from wind power generation in Niutoua, and will likely to save 1,079,000 liters of diesel per year that the country used for diesel power generation, thus contributing about 7.32% of total power generation in Tonga.
JICA dispatched the Preparatory Survey Team from Japan headed by Mr. Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Deputy Director General, Industry Development and Public Policy Department, JICA from January 9 -13, 2017 for the Preparatory Survey on project installation of wind power generation system. The total cost of project will be released to the public once the bidding is finalized.
The Tonga Power Limited (TPL) will be the Executing agency for the project (hereinafter referred to as “the Executing Agency”). The Executing Agency will coordinate with all relevant authorities to ensure smooth implementation of the project and ensure that the undertakings for the project by relevant authorities are progressing well and in good time. The line ministry of the Executing Agency is the Ministry of MEIDECC where they are responsible for supervising the Executing Agency on behalf of the Government of Tonga.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications