North Pacific ACP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project
Press Release #0111-03
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
January 4, 2011

(SPC) - On 7 December 2010, SPC convened the first North-REP Project Steering Committee (PSC) at the SPC North Pacific Office in Pohnpei with bilateral discussions being undertaken on Monday 6 December 2010 and the PSC meeting proper commencing on Tuesday 7 December. The Director General of SPC, Dr Jimmie Rodgers provided the opening remarks and thanked the EU Delegation and in particular with the presence of Mr Malcolm Ponton. Dr Rodgers also congratulated the 3 countries and their representatives: the National Authorising Officers (NAOs) and the respective Ministries responsible for energy in Palau, RMI and FSM for their collaboration and vision in working together for the improvement of livelihoods in the north Pacific region. Dr Rodgers also reassured SPC’s support and engagement as the implementing agency and as the lead coordinating regional energy agency.
Other representatives at the PSC meeting were the Pacific Power Association (PPA), the three North-REP Energy Specialists, SPC Strategic Planning, Policy and Engagement Facility and the SPC Economic Development Division. The PSC meeting was chaired by the Manager of SPC North Pacific Office, Amena Yauvoli.

During the meeting, the PSC members discussed how the overall objective of North REP which is improving the quality of life on the outer islands (for RMI and FSM) and reducing dependency on fossil fuels in the three countries, would be achieved during the lifetime of the project.

To achieve the objective, the project will contribute to increase access of remote populations to reliable renewable electricity services (in RMI and FSM) and to improve the overall efficiency of the energy sector through energy efficiency and grid-connected renewable energy in the three countries. Total funding for FSM is 7.47 million Euro (approximately 10 million US$), 52% of the total project budget.

The North Pacific ACP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (North-REP) commenced activities in mid October 2010 with Ms Arieta Gonelevu, Mr Tony Polack and Mr Emanuele Taibi, the three Energy Specialists, taking their duty stations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Palau and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), respectively. The 4-year €14.44m (approximately US$18.62m) North-REP is funded under the EDF-10 A Envelope with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) as the implementing agency. North-REP has a unique implementing modality since Palau, RMI and FSM have pooled their EDF-10 bilateral funds into a single project with a common objective and purpose, centrally managed by SPC from Pohnpei.

“For more information, please contact Mr. Emanuele Taibi, Energy Specialist (Federated States of Micronesia), North Pacific Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (North REP), Economic Development Division (EDD), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, P.O. Box Q, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941, Federated States of Micronesia, Email address: emanuelet@spc.int.”