News

CGF approves $31m for Fiji

November 12, 2015 12:53 am

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has thanked Green Climate Fund or (CGF) for the approval of a $31 million grant for Fiji.

The Fund has approved the climate adaptation grant for the Asian Development Bank’s Fiji Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project that will benefit the whole country.

Bainimarama says Fiji is the first Pacific Island country to receive such a grant and it demonstrates Fiji’s deep commitment to building our resilience to climate change and working with development partners to address this global phenomenon.

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The entire scope of work in valued at $222 million is expected to be financed by the grant from CGF, a $67.7 million loan from ADB, and other sources. ‎

The project, which is subject to ADB Board approval, will build new infrastructure to increase clean water supplies by 20% and boost wastewater treatment capacity by 200% in the greater Suva area, the main metropolitan center of Fiji.

The water intake for the new system will be moved higher up the Rewa River to avoid saltwater intrusion from a rise in the sea level and to cope with likely shifts in river flows in the future.

The water system will be climate-proofed through a number of measures including strengthening pipes to make them more resilient to flooding.