PICs’ support and endorsement to be sought



Drivers of economic growth such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, transportation, information and communications technology, infrastructure development, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and other service sectors are dependent on the energy sector for productivity.
Energy security depends on the availability, accessibility, affordability and stability of energy.
It also depends on aspects of end-use energy consumption, such as productive utilisation of energy—particularly in transport—and the need for energy efficiency and conservation, including standards and appliance labelling and building codes.
Since 2007, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, Forum Economic Ministers and Pacific Ministers of Energy have called for effective and appropriate ‘Pacific approaches and solutions’ to address the energy challenges in the region.
Against this background, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), as the lead coordinating agency for energy in the region, has engaged in extensive consultations with experts in energy from Pacific Islands countries and territories’ power utilities, private sector entities, government stakeholders, planning and finance departments—regional and international agencies, and bilateral and multilateral development partners—to develop a Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific.
The framework outlines a new approach to improving energy security in the Pacific. It acknowledges the primacy of national energy policies and plans/roadmaps as the principal means for achieving energy security and promotes a whole-of-sector approach based on the concept of ‘many partners, one team’.
This approach recognises that numerous stakeholders contribute to energy security in the region and accepts them as equal partners.
The framework aims to support the efforts of PICTs to ensure that their people have access to sufficient sustainable sources of clean and affordable energy and services to enhance their social and economic well-being.
It also brings the region closer to achieving our collective goal of energy security and the vision of ‘a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity’ as outlined in the Pacific Plan.

Delineating responsibilities
Apart from urging the development community to coordinate support to PICTs through a single implementation plan, the framework emphasises delineating national versus regional responsibilities.
It supports national energy plans and policies by adding value to national roles. National responsibilities also include roles and responsibilities of national energy sector institutions, pricing and laws, data and information, studies and technical reports, relationships between government and private sector energy providers, capacity development, prioritising technical assistance, and collaborating with development partners.
On the other hand, regional responsibilities deal with economies of scale; development and synchronisation of standards; leadership, strategic engagement and advocacy; capacity supplementation and skills transfer; policy analysis, research and development; and systems for data collection, analysis, reporting and information dissemination.
There are 11 guiding principles in the framework that provide the parameters within which the relevance and appropriateness of regional initiatives should be assessed.
They also suggest how the many partners making up the team should collaborate with each other and partner with PICTs.
The principles include consideration of sustainable livelihoods, climate change, and gender and cultural issues as well as the need for improved planning, capacity development and efficiency. The framework outlines seven themes for action, which embody the 11 guiding principles.
Thematic priorities highlighted in the framework are: (i) leadership, governance, coordination and partnerships; (ii) capacity development, planning, policy and regulatory frameworks; (iii) energy production and supply (petroleum and renewable energy); (iv) energy conversion (electricity); (v) end-use energy consumption (transport energy use and efficiency and conservation); (vi) energy data and information; as well as (vii) financing, monitoring and evaluation.
There is wide acknowledgement that petroleum products are the major source of energy for the region and that this will continue for the long-term.
Changes in their availability, quality and cost therefore have a significant impact on small islands economies.
The framework addresses the critical issue of importing higher quality refined petroleum products that may be more expensive but are likely to produce long-term economic benefits in terms of cleaner and more efficient energy.
For example, Fiji imports diesel fuel with a maximum of 500 parts per million of sulphur but Tonga imports lower quality diesel with a considerably higher sulphur content.
If Tonga were to import the same quality fuel as Fiji, costs could be reduced through the purchase and shipment of larger quantities.
Ministers at a Special Forum Energy Ministers Meeting, hosted by Australia on June 30 in Brisbane, endorsed the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific and will recommend it to Forum Leaders for consideration and endorsement at their meeting in August.
Wider support and endorsement will be sought from all PICTs at the next meeting of Pacific Energy Ministers in 2011.
The framework will be supported by a regional implementation plan comprising specific activities under each theme to support and augment national level activities, in which it can add value to the national development agenda in the energy sector.

• For further information, contact Solomone Fifita, Deputy Director, Energy (solomonef@spc.int) or Rupeni Mario, Energy Adviser (rupenim@spc.int), SPC.