Samoa will still reach its goal to have the electricity grid powered by 70 per cent renewable energy by 2031, says Electric Power Corporation (E.P.C.), despite the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic and climate change.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, E.P.C General Manager, Faumui Tauiliili To'imoana said the corporation's plans are going steady despite the unpredictable weather and economy. He said they are confident that they will reach their goal in seven years.

He added that the Cabinet has approved for the Corporation to present its strategies to the Ministry of Finance (M.O.F.) and prepare their tenders strategies.

"The update we have now is that the Cabinet has approved that we present to MOF and prepare our tender," he said.

"We work together with M.O.F and they are looking for development partners that can help with funding the solar because the capital is not cheap."

Asked how the E.P.C has been coping with the unpredictable weather and whether they have had any financial losses during their operations and planning, Faumui said no as they benefit either way.

"We operate the solar and the hydro so when it rains heavily, E.P.C will benefit from the hydro system but if it's sunny then we benefit from the solar system," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) in 2022 launched its’ “Low Emissions Development Strategy 2021-2030” with a target of 70 per cent renewable energy use by the end of 2031. 

The purpose of the strategy is to review the existing outdated Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy 2008-2018 and other relevant sectoral policies and strategies to identify what was achieved and what other measures could be implemented in various sectors to further reduce GHG emissions for Samoa. 

EPC recorded a tremendous shift in the deployment and utilisation of renewable energy technologies in Samoa and renewable energy’s notable developments will enable Samoa to transform the electricity supply to 70 per cent renewable energy.

According to EPC’s Annual Report 2019-2020, 45 per cent of electricity was generated from renewable energy.

Most of the electricity in Samoa, particularly for the main grid, is generated from diesel, hydro-power and solar power generation stations and a very small amount of electricity is produced from wind energy and biomass resources.

In 2020, Samoa launched the $11.3 million talā Afolau Biomass Gasification Power plant opposite the Faleolo International Airport, aimed at producing 5 million kWh of electricity annually based on running the 750 kW plant at 85 per cent of its capacity, 90 per cent of the time.

This is the first facility of its kind to be set up in Samoa and the region and will benefit up to 5,000 families on the north-western side of the island of Upolu and will save the country up to 1.2 million litres of diesel per year at $3 million talā.

It will also reduce CO₂ emissions by 3.7 tonnes per year.

The shift to renewable energy will reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and shift to cleaner and renewable form of power supply.