13 Dec 2022

Drought imperils Samoa power generation

2:00 pm on 13 December 2022

Samoa's hydro electric power generation is under threat due to the prolonged dry season.

The Electric Power Corporation said hydro power plants generated 18 percent of the country's electricity needs and one hydro station had been out of operation for three months because of low water levels.

The Samoa Observer reported the Minister of Works,Transport and Infrastructure Olo Fiti Vaai warned that families needed to take heed and urged them to make sure they had reserves such as water tanks at home.

He said climate change was an ongoing issue and it was affecting water supply with reservoirs getting too low, while rivers were drier than they had ever been.

Inside the Alaoa Hydropower Plant in Samoa.

Inside the Alaoa Hydropower Plant in Samoa. Photo: Asian Development Bank