IRENA and SPC sign MoU on Pacific energy security

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has formed a partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to coordinate energy security strategies around the vast Pacific region through a unified approach. The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this month recognising the key role of each agency in promoting renewable energy in the pursuit of energy security in the Pacific.

“The signing of this MoU is a milestone,” said Solomone Fifita, Deputy Director (Energy) of SPC. “It has taken place in 2012, the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All and the two organisations are committed to the sustainable energy for all initiative with its goals of providing universal access to modern energy services, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix – all by 2030.”

In line with SPC’s “one team” approach, IRENA aims to gather existing, but often scattered, activities around a central hub for knowledge, networking and technical advice. SPC is the lead regional agency on energy in the Pacific, responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific (FAESP) signed in April 2011. The MoU records the mutual interest of IRENA and SPC to explore possibilities of collaboration to promote the accelerated deployment of sustainable renewable energy systems in the Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) in harmonisation with the 2011-2015 FAESP implementation plan. The FAESP provides the regional blueprint for the provision of technical assistance on energy security to PICTs

IRENA’s members in the Pacific region are Australia, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa and Tonga, while Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are signatories or applicants for membership.