Riya Mala 
Despite nearly $2 billion already invested since the late 1970s, Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau told Parliament that the country’s growing electricity demand continues to strain the grid, driven largely by expansion in the tourism, commercial, domestic, and other productive sectors.
He noted that while most of Fiji’s electricity is generated from hydropower, the economy remains heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels a dependency that exposes the nation to serious financial and environmental risks.
Ro Filipe stressed that the greatest threat to Fiji’s energy security is the growing impact of climate change.
“The deterioration of aging infrastructure, volatility in global oil prices, uncertainties in international markets, reliance on fuel imports, limited capacity and access to modern technologies, and the urgent need for grid investment to meet rising demand.”
He told Parliament that to address these challenges, the government is reviewing current policies and has placed energy security and resilience at the heart of national development priorities.
Opposition MP Jone Usamate also weighed in, emphasizing energy sustainability and universal access as vital elements of Fiji’s national energy policy.
“Fiji has made commitments to carbon zero by 2050, the target of achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, and additional targets for 2036.”
While commending the Ministry’s direction, Usamate stressed that new housing developments in Fiji must be designed with renewable energy systems, calling it a crucial step toward achieving the nation’s long-term goals.
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