28 Apr 2017

Tonga slow to reach renewable energy goals

6:53 pm on 28 April 2017
Maama Mai Solar Facility, Tonga Power Limited.

Maama Mai solar facility in Tonga. The country currently produces 11 percent of its energy needs from renewable resources. Photo: Tonga Power Limited.

Tonga, which produces 11 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources, has three years to achieve its goal of 50 percent renewables.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, revealed the figure this week, saying the government had a programme in place to lift the percentage to 50 percent by 2020.

Radio Tonga reports him saying the country faces challenges in this quest from its isolation, the large number of islands in Tonga, and finding the funding.

Mr Sovaleni said the government hoped to access climate change funding for some projects which are likely to include more solar projects and possibly wind.