SUVA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- To support Fiji's national renewable energy and energy security goals, Energy Fiji Limited is moving forward with an investment program of approximately 2 billion Fijian dollars (around 886 million U.S. dollars), one of the largest infrastructure investments in its history, said Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development Esrom Immanuel.
Announced in the 2026-2027 National Budget, the program includes two hydropower schemes delivering 50 megawatts of baseload power, alongside 165 megawatts of solar generation with battery storage, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday.
The investment also covers major grid upgrades, transmission redundancy, and replacement of aging infrastructure.
Immanuel said energy security is now a prerequisite for growth, especially after the global fuel crisis underscored Fiji's vulnerability to imported energy costs, adding that the new program marks a significant step up from previous budgets, which focused on smaller-scale renewable projects.
This year's plan sets a medium-term target of 60 percent renewable generation, with Fiji reaffirming its long-term goal of 90 percent by 2035.
According to the minister, the inclusion of battery storage technology is a key upgrade to ensure solar power can be integrated more reliably into the national grid.
He said grid modernization and redundancy projects are also expected to reduce outages and improve electricity supply across the country. ■