The United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, His Excellency (H.E) Paul Turner, has underscored the importance of establishing an Independent Energy Regulator to transform the country’s electricity sector.
Speaking at a recent National Stakeholder Workshop on Energy Reform, he said the proposed regulator would help make electricity cleaner, more reliable and more affordable for Solomon Islanders.
The workshop, held on 18 February, gathered representatives from government ministries, public agencies including Solomon Power, and development partners.
Members of the diplomatic and donor community, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank also attended, reflecting coordinated international support for Solomon Islands’ energy reform agenda.
In his keynote address, H.E Turner welcomed the Solomon Islands Government’s vision for a more accessible power sector, noting that an independent regulator would create a level playing field for additional Independent Power Providers (IPPs) to enter the market.
Increased competition, he said, would encourage investment in renewable energy, particularly solar and reduce reliance on imported diesel fuel.
Currently, around 90 per cent of Solomon Islands’ grid electricity is generated from diesel, a system Mr Turner described as economically and environmentally unsustainable.
He stressed that the country must diversify its energy sources to achieve long-term affordability and reduce carbon emissions, both on-grid and in remote communities.
The UK Government has deployed British technical experts to support the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification in drafting legislation to establish the independent regulator.
While acknowledging that the reform process is complex and time-consuming, High Commissioner Turner said steady progress is being made and reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting a modern, transparent and sustainable energy framework for the country.
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