By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News
Solar panels like these on the tiny island of Nassau are proving to have major health and lifestyle benefits for outer islanders. Photo: Cook Islands News
New Zealand says it approved $12.9 million for the Northern Group Battery Replacement Project a year ago, after Prime Minister Mark Brown told parliament they were still working with the NZ government to start the project.
The Prime Minister made the comments in Parliament last month while responding to a question from Opposition leader Tina Browne about delays in the replacement of the entire battery systems for the Northern Group, which have reached the end of their lifespan.
Brown said they were working closely with New Zealand, "unfortunately, the length of time that it's taking to finalise this particular project is gone beyond than what I expected".
"We will however endeavour to speed up the process with the New Zealand government and we will stick with the New Zealand government funding because we have gone so far down the road that it would be pointless to now look at funding sources," he said.
However, Catherine Graham, the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, has confirmed that a total of $12.9 million was already approved in March last year, by the Infrastructure Trust Fund Committee, for this project to proceed to implementation.
Graham indicated that the delay stems from the Cook Islands government's side, specifically in terms of the tendering process for works.
"New Zealand is pleased to be supporting the Northern Group Battery Replacement Project via the Cook Islands Infrastructure Trust Fund, to which New Zealand has contributed NZ$76 million to date," Graham told Cook Islands News.
"We understand the tender for works is currently being advertised by the Cook Islands government which is a positive step towards continued reliable supply of power to the Northern Pa Enua."
Cook Islands News has contacted the Office of the Prime Minister for comment regarding funding availability and the delay in the tender process. The newspaper understands that Deputy Prime Minister, Albert Nicholas, who is also the Minister responsible for Infrastructure Cook Islands, is working on a detailed response regarding the funding.
In Parliament last month, Opposition leader Browne raised her concern about the lack of a definite timeframe for the replacement of the entire battery systems.
"The reason why I am asking this question because we are running out of funds and the money is being used by the Outer Islands to purchase diesels. So, the sooner for us to get this going in fixing our solar system then it will alleviate the problem of us buying more diesel," Browne said.
In 2015, eight solar-diesel hybrid power systems were installed on the Northern Group islands of Penrhyn, Manihiki, Nassau, Palmerston, Rakahanga and Pukapuka. New Zealand donated $20 million to the project, with the solar panels intended to bring secure 24/7 electricity supplies to island communities.
However, the batteries have reached the end of their lifespan and needs replacing.
In April last year, the Office of the Prime Minister said repairs to the solar power system in the Northern Group islands could take up to a year and residents needed to conserve their power usage.
The OPM made these comments after Cook Islands News revealed Penrhyn residents were facing reduced power hours due to failing batteries in their solar-diesel hybrid system and were expecting battery replacements in June 2024.
However, the OPM then said to suggest that "replacement batteries that will fix the problem will be arriving soon is incorrect and unnecessarily raises expectations".
It said the full repairs could take up to 12 months, adding people in the north needed to conserve their power usage.
New Zealand paid for the installation of the solar power system in the northern group, and is expected to fund the remedial work, according to the OPM.
"The bulk of the funding for the solution will come from NZ. The final scope for design, costs and timelines are being worked on," the OPM said last year.
Initial funding was approved by the Infrastructure Trust Fund by April last year, the OPM then said, and work continued to finalise the engineer and project manager procurement.
"The design specifications for the project, which the northern Pa Enua were involved with are complete, and this work is being fed into the overall works procurement package," OPM said in April last year.
"In the interim and until a permanent long-term solution is in place, government is asking the Pa Enua, particularly the northern Pa Enua to conserve their energy use.
"Once the government has finalised procurement process, timelines for installation and costs, a further statement will be made."
Meanwhile, PM Brown confirmed in Parliament last month that the Cook Islands government is looking to China for potential solutions to the Southern Group battery system.
"With the Southern Group battery system that are now also coming to their end of life, we are looking at advanced battery technology and something that we can work quickly with the Asian Development Bank and also the government of China," he said. "And if things go according to plan with China, we may see both of these projects being conducted at the same time."
"As to the exact timeframe, I am afraid Mr Speaker I cannot provide an exact timeframe other than to say we are working quickly. But in the meantime, we will have to supplement the power source on the outer islands with the diesel generators."
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
