Tonga: Pacific Island Nation and Papua New Guinea to Promote Geothermal Development

Tonga PM: Geothermal potential in PNG huge (Loop Pacific)

Tonga’s Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva has noted in his recent brief that Papua New Guinea (PNG) plans to build or upgrade 800 MW of hydro-electricity and more than 500 MW of geothermal generating capacity within the next 10-15 years to provide a reliable and affordable electricity supply.

He said his Government has suggested that both Papua New Guinea and Tonga can establish an understanding in working towards building and encouraging the use of geothermal source of energy in the Pacific.

“In the Pacific region Papua New Guinea and Australia are seeing their geothermal industries expand rapidly while recently Tonga and the World Bank is developing a 10-year roadmap to shift its energy supply to renewable, with geothermal one of the likely options,” he said.

Pohiva said the roadmap is under the implementation phase and World Bank has approved a project that will provide the country with resources supporting the increased absorption of sustainable energy.

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