The European Investment Bank will provide technical assistance worth about $10m to carry out a feasibility study on a potential hydro-scheme.
The Fiji Electricity Authority and the EIB today signed an official Cooperation Agreement to assist in the study.
Chief Executive Hasmukh Patel says a pre-feasibility study on the Lower Ba Scheme was conducted earlier and they are pleased with the results.
“Water that actually flows down after we carry out power generation in Nadarivatu Hydro this is the water that then flows down into the Ba river – so this particular project we call it the Lower Ba Hyrdo Scheme and through this technical assistance provided by the European Investment Bank full feasibility studies will be carried out to establish the likely output and the economic viability of the scheme.”
Patel says the consultants for the feasibility study will be appointed this year and work will begin early next year.
He says once the study is completed FEA will call for Expressions of Interest from Independent Power Producers to develop the project.
FEA aims to provide 90 percent of energy requirements through renewable energy sources by 2025.
