6 July 2011: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has reported on the Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP), which is being implemented in 11 Pacific island countries.

Countries participating in the US$5.23 million renewable energy project are Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

PIGGAREP, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the SPREP, seeks to help Pacific island countries overcome barriers to use effective renewable energy technologies.

In its fourth year, PIGGAREP is progressing at different speeds depending on the Pacific island country involved and its ability to access funds. To facilitate access to PIGGAREP and the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund, SPREP has partnered with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) for a Project Proposal Writing Workshop aimed at building the capacity of over 40 participants in preparing proposals. The writeshop is scheduled to take place from 4-8 July 2011, in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The PEC Fund, administered by the Forum Secretariat, and created through a commitment by the Government of Japan of ¥6.8 billion (approximately US$66 million), supports proposals on solar power generation systems and sea water desalination plants, or a combination of both.

PIGGAREP will be evaluated in October 2011, with a view to seeking ways for improvement. Solomon Islands and Samoa have committed all their allocated funds under the PIGGAREP. [SPREP Press Release] [PIFS Press Release]