The Board of Energy Fiji Limited has made it clear that there was no intervention from the government as to how they should operate on a daily basis.

This was clarified by EFL Board Chair Dakshesh Patel after the Fiji National Provident Fund bought 20% of shares from the entity.

Patel has attributed the success of Energy Fiji Limited to the freedom given to the board to operate independently.

“Not once I ever felt that there was interference or instructions from the government or the Minister on how to do things, for that I am grateful and for that freedom to operate as a board independently has been a wonderful experience.”

Patel says there was always constructive criticism from the government.

“Not once the prime minister called me or asked me or instructed me to do anything. Not once. And neither have the ministers. The messages I receive from the ministers and the prime minister has always been a complaint from a customer.”

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the government ensures that state-owned enterprises are dealt within the framework of good governance.

“And as the chairman of EFL highlighted it’s critically important to ensure that level of governance and indeed that maturity within managing your state-owned enterprises.”

The government has stated they are keen on the renewable energy space and there’s a lot of potential for growth.