12 Jul 2013

SPC says push for renewable energy not main concern for big islands

2:59 pm on 12 July 2013

The Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community says the push for renewable energy is not as relevant for the big Pacific islands.

Dr Jimmie Rodgers says countries like Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu pollute a great deal more through transport than producing energy, and they need to make an economic decision to use more expensive but cleaner fossil fuels.

He says 85 per cent of the Solomon Islands fossil fuel bill is from the transport industry, while smaller island states like Tokelau use less transport and are set to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy status, through the use of wind farms, hydro and photo-voltaic projects.

Dr Rodgers says there should not be a one-size-fits-all approach with Pacific countries.

"This is where I think sometimes the drive to have 100 per cent renewable energy in Pacific island countries has not really taken into account the consideration that for some of these countries, that's very good, but you are really only reducing the reliance on fossil fuels by 15 to 25 per cent."

Dr Jimmie Rodgers