Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua received a courtesy call this morning from the Asian Development Bank’s Director of Energy, Mr. Keiju Mitsuhashi.
Discussions focused on the Government’s continued support for key initiatives of the Asian Developmnet Bank, including the Renewable Acceleration Independence (RAPID) and the Grid Enhancement for Sustainable Energy Transition (GREST) projects. Updates were also provided on further grid assessments for RAPID and GREST, as well as the confirmed project processing approval for the Sustainable and Resilient Power Network (formerly Nukuʻalofa Network Upgrade Area 4) in 2027, alongside the broader energy project pipeline.
Also present at the meeting were Col. (Ret’d) Siamelie Latu, Energy Commissioner; Mr. Sione ‘Akauʻola, CEO of the Ministry of MEIDECC; Mr. Tsutomu Nakao, Chairman of the Tonga Power Board; Mr. Scott Westbury, CEO of Tonga Power; and Mrs. Balwyn Faʻotusia, Tonga Country Coordinator for ADB.
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Naʻe talitali ʻe he ‘Eiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua ‘a e ʻaʻahi he pongipongi ni mei he Talekita ki he Ma’u’anga Ivi ʻa e Pangike Fakalakalaka ʻo ʻEsia, Mr. Keiju Mitsuhashi.
Naʻe fakatefito ʻa e fealeleaʻaki ʻi he hokohoko atu ʻa e poupou ʻa e Puleʻanga ki he ngaahi ngaue mahuʻinga ʻa e Pangike Fakalakalaka ʻo ʻEsia, kau ai ʻa e polokalama ngaue ki he ma’u’angaivi fo’ou ko e Renewable Acceleration Independence (RAPID) mo e Grid Enhancement for Sustainable Energy Transition (GREST). Naʻe toe ʻoatu foki ʻa e ngaahi fakamatala fakamuimuitaha ki he ngaue ki hono sivi ʻo e ngaahi naunau tufaki ‘uhila ma’a e RAPID mo e GREST, pea pehe ki hono fakapapauʻi ʻo e fakangofua ʻo e ngaue ki he Sustainable and Resilient Power Network (naʻe ui ki muʻa ko e Nukuʻalofa Network Upgrade Area 4) ʻi he 2027, fakataha mo e polokalama ngaue ki he ma’u’anga ivi fakalukufua.
Naʻe ʻi he fakataha foki ʻa Kenolo. (Retʻd) Siamelie Latu, Komisiona ki he Ma’u’anga Ivi; Sione ʻAkauʻola, ‘Ofisa Pule Ngaue ‘o e Potungaue MEIDECC; Tsutomu Nakao, Sea ʻo e Poate ʻUhila ʻa Tonga; Scott Westbury, ‘Ofisa Pule Ngaue ʻo e Kautaha ‘Uhila ‘a Tonga; mo Balwyn Faʻotusia, ko e fakafofonga ‘o e Pangike ‘a ‘Esia ‘i Tonga.
