According to Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the cost of electricity in the Pacific is among the highest in the world, and 70% of Pacific Islanders do not have access to electricity.
SPC further underlines that total energy losses in some power utilities amount to 25% and that renewable energy opportunities are generally underutilized.
1 March 2012: To mark the beginning of the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced poetry and essay competitions for secondary school students on the topic. Entries must be submitted by 15 April 2012.
According to SPC, the cost of electricity in the Pacific is among the highest in the world, and 70% of Pacific Islanders do not have access to electricity. SPC further underlines that total energy losses in some power utilities amount to 25% and that renewable energy opportunities are generally underutilized.
The SPC, in collaboration with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the University of the South Pacific, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Power Association and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as the Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs), is organizing and coordinating activities to increase awareness of the importance of addressing energy issues, including modern energy services for all, access to affordable energy, energy efficiency and the sustainability of energy sources and use. [SPC Press Release] [SPC School Essay Competition Website] [SPC School Poetry Competition Website]