Authors: Matthew Dornan and Frank Jotzo, ANU

High oil prices are disproportionately affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific, while renewable energy could replace oil used for power generation and help reduce the risk of cost blowouts.

In Fiji, the oil import bill was around 14 per cent of GDP in 2010 and is likely to be higher this year, with oil prices again remaining above US$100 a barrel. Read more…

Author: Matthew Dornan, ANU

Fiji Water announced on Wednesday that it will maintain its water manufacturing operation in Fiji, just one day after stating it would leave the country over an ‘untenable’ tax increase on exports of water.

This is one chapter in an extraordinary story concerning the boutique water manufacturer; a story that has led to the resignation of Fiji’s Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration, Epeli Ganilau, and to the deportation of Fiji Water’s Director of External Affairs on ‘security and national interest’ grounds. Read more…

Author: Matthew Dornan, ANU

The Nadarivatu hydro scheme may not be on the same scale as the Three Gorges Dam in China, but it is of similar importance for electricity generation in Fiji. When completed, it will generate 40 megawatts of power. This means that the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) will be well on its way to achieving its renewable energy target of 90 per cent of total generation. In total, the Nadarivatu scheme will replace 22,000 tonnes of expensive diesel and heavy fuel oil per annum.

So what is the problem? Unfortunately, the involvement of Sinohydro Corporation Ltd in Nadarivatu’s construction has raised significant labour and economic concerns within Fiji, and has contributed to unnecessary concern about the nature of China’s involvement in the Pacific region. Read more…