PCREEE IS ON FIRMER GROUNDS FOR THE JOURNEY

Development partners, representative of the private sector and the business community, government officials and the media were given the assurance that the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE) is in more firmer grounds for its journey. The Manager of the PCREEE, Solomone Fifita, gave the assurance during the celebration of the First Year Anniversary of the PCREEE at Nuku’alofa yesterday (26 April).

Organizationally PCREEE has fully implemented its institutional structures, established Thematic Hubs, created National Focal Institutions and formed an active steering committee. Based on this success, it is no surprise that PCREEE has secured confirmed funding for its operations over the next 4 years and has more than 50 million USD of funding proposals under consideration. The Centre has space and facilities that can accommodate future growth to a staff roll of 20.

PCREEE was established in response to calls by Pacific Island Countries and Territories for a specialised entity to drive the transition to renewable energy and energy efficient technologies by empowering the private sector and the business community to lead and to invest.

On the commemoration of its first year anniversary, PCREEE further signed two strategic partnerships. The first was with the Association of Development and Financing Institutions in the Pacific or ADFIP.  This MoU provides a formal framework for the PCREEE and ADFIP to jointly work in the areas of:

• A Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency business support facility
• Investments in sustainable energy
• Capacity building in sustainable energy business start-ups.

The second strategic partnership was with the sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands or SEIAPI. This MoU provides a formal framework for the PCREEE and SEIAPI to jointly work in the areas of:

• Capacity Building and Training
• Business and Investment Promotion
• Data and Information Exchange
• Resource Mobilisation 
• Technical assistance and policy advice on low carbon and resilient development

The CEO of the Tonga Development Bank, Mrs Leta Havea Kami signed on behalf of ADFIP (pictured below) while the CEO of the Tonga Power Ltd, Mr Robert Mathews, signed on behalf of SEIAPI (pictured above).

PCREEE is coordinated by the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with its sister regional organisations (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Power Association, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the University of the South Pacific).

CEO of the Tonga Development Bank, Mrs Leta Havea Kami signing on behalf of ADFIP and Mr. Solomone Fifita, PCREEE Manager.