By Francis Talasasa, Reporter
The Republic of Palau with two of its sister countries, the republic of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia were recipients of a renewable energy funding assistance awarded by the New Zealand Government of a total of NZ5 million dollars.
[restrict]
The republic of Palau attended a pacific energy conference in June 2016 in which New Zealand announced additional support to increase access to renewable energy in the Pacific.
In a letter by New Zealand’s Secretary of foreign affairs and trade Mr. Brook Barrington said the fund is to carry out technical assistance for the development of renewable energy initiatives. He said the support was in addition to the NZ2.5 million dollars under the north pacific development funds administered by the Honolulu based New Zealand Embassy. Given New Zealand’s history of coordinating with development partners to support pacific countries energy priorities, such development plans will continues to seek other partnership opportunities in the north west pacific to leverage support as appropriate.
A letter from the Embassy advised and intended that the funding will provide technical assistance and support grid-connected solar to improve renewable energy generation and access rates in the Republic of Palau.
New Zealand proposes to work actively and in coordination with the Republic of Palau on its energy priorities and the delivery of this assistance to seek partnership opportunities with other development partners.
The government of New Zealand would like to announce this support at the pacific islands forum in September 2016 and welcomes views whether the government would be interested in accepting this support ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum, it said
Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key has invited his Excellency President Remengesau to attend the announcement. [/restrict]