SPC to host renewable energy forum for Pacific

The development of an enabling environment for private sector participation in the promotion of energy security in the Pacific region is an important step toward the realization of the goal of the Pacific Plan, which is to enhance and stimulate economic growth, sustainable development good governance and security for Pacific countries through regionalism. One of the key strategies in the Sustainable Development pillar of the Pacific Plan is the implementation of the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific.

PNG, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are among the most disadvantaged Pacific Countries , as electricity is only accessible to about 20 percent of the population. With 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, the energy security challenges of these countries must be addressed to ensure their people a trouble-free life, defeating hardship and poverty.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community , with the support of the ACP Business Climate Facility, or BizClim, is organizing a two-day Forum on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Trade & Investment, scheduled to take place in Nadi, Fiji on Aug. 8, 2012, at the Westin Denarau Hotel.

The main focus of this high-level event is on the establishment of a policy framework aiming at fostering the participation of the private sector in the promotion of energy security in three Pacific countries, namely PNG, Solomons, and Vanuatu. The Forum is expected to lead to a full understanding of the energy sector in the three countries and the determinants and dynamics of energy supply and demand. The existing policy and regulatory frameworks as well as the promotion of investments in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sector will also be examined in order to address the constraints to access modern and green energy as an engine for growth.

The Forum will bring together 100 high-level regional and international delegates from national governments, donors, NGOs, private sector and experts to provide visible leadership and political commitment to a common strategy to design a successfully policy framework which will be applied in each one of the three target countries and will serve as an inspiring ‘model’ for other countries in the Pacific region and beyond.

Specifically, the Trade & Investment Forum will discuss existing national energy policies, notably how these engage the private sector. Such discussion will be based on energy balances to be developed for each country, as well as an assessment of the renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) potential. Participants will make recommendations on policy and regulatory options (both national and regional) that are conducive to enhancing the enabling environment for private sector investments in the RE and EE sectors.

SPC is an international organization that works in public health, geoscience, agriculture, forestry, water resources, disaster management, fisheries, education (community, TVET, quality and standards for all school levels), statistics, transport, energy, ICT, media, human rights, gender, youth and culture to help Pacific Island people achieve sustainable development.(http://www.spc.int)

The ACP Business Climate facility (BizClim) is a program of the ACP Secretariat financed by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund. It aims at fostering a business-enabling environment in ACP countries and regions by improving legislation, institutional frameworks and financial measures relating to the enabling environment of the private sector.

For further information about this forum, contact Lepropre at Michel.lepropre@gmail.com; Solomone Fifita at SolomoneF@spc.int ; or visit the website www.reeetif.com. (SPC)