Villagers of Namara in the province of Kadavu received an early Christmas present after the commissioning of their $3.5 million micro grid solar project over the weekend.

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate says the new project will allow 57 households, a community hall, church, nine school blocks, four teacher’s quarters, 1 dining hall and 2 hostels to access electricity.

Usamate says this is all part of government’s plan that by 2021, all Fijians have access to power.

He says according to the national census that was conducted in September 2017, out of the total 191,910 households surveyed, about 184,727 or 96% of households have access to some form of electricity supply.

Usamate adds it is their firm belief that having access to modern energy services is central to achieving development goals, including those related to poverty eradication, health, education and gender equality.