Solar pump project set to eradicate the use of fuels ^Featured

Solar Pump Project Manager Mr. ‘Ofa Sefana said so far 11 solar pump have been set up in villages around Tongatapu and they  were looking forward to establishing more solar pump in Tonga.

“We have established 11 solar pumps in 11 villages and we are looking forward to set up 75+ solar pumps here in Tongatapu,” he said.

“The villages include Masilamea, Vaini, Kala’au, Toloa, Ha’alalo, Ha’utu, Vaotu’u, Matahau, Nukunuku.”

According to Sefana the first phase of MEIDECC’s Solar Pump System Project has been completed in Ha’apai and they were looking forward to start the second phase for all villages of ‘Uta Vava’u and the third phase of the project is yet to be confirmed.

“The first phase of the project has been completed which were the set-up of solar pumps in Ha’apai. We are about to start the second phase in Vava’u and we are planning to complete it in the first quarter of 2017. The third phase of the project is Tongatapu which we are now working on at the moment but the project will be on-going until 2020.”

“So to achieve the plan we are conducting the on-going training to guide villagers and private companies on how to specify, purchases, set-up solar pump systems and how to resolve problems that are regularly facing the solar pumps. Experiences from the past showed a very gloomy result not only in Tonga but various sites in the Pacific region as well.”

“So doing nothing about it has never been an option. We just wanted to learn from the failures and try to improve as long as dependency on diesel is totally avoided and cheap, clean water pumping environment is achieved at the community level.”

Sefana stated that some of the villagers have raised their concerns about the designing of the solar pumps and the set-up process and that was the main reason of conducting trainings to resolve the problems.

Sefana noted that the project would benefit Tongans in terms of accessing cheaper water supply and it reducing pollution from the using of fossil fuel in the current water pumping system. “Thanks to IUCN Oceania Regional Office and the New Zealand based Whatpowercrisis Company for funding and Technical Assistance.

-MEIDECC