5 Sep 2012

Tonga seeks more help from New Zealand for solar power development

3:07 pm on 5 September 2012

The Tonga Government has asked New Zealand for further assistance to extend the just commissioned solar electricity plant, the Ma'ama Mai Solar Farm at Popua.

Radio Tonga reports the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, made a request to his New Zealand counterpart, John Key, during the Pacific Islands Forum summit in the Cook Islands.

Lord Tu'ivakano says the new farm supplies 4 percent of Tongatapu's power needs but the government is aiming to generate up 50 per cent from renewable sources.

New Zealand, with the European Union, is to host a Pacific energy summit next April and the Tonga Prime Minister says he hopes the farm will be used as an example of what can be achieved.