The Japanese Government Wednesday provided assistance worth 200 million yen (AUD$2.4 million) to help procurement of diesel fuel for Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC).
 
The deal was formalised during a signing ceremony between Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga and Japanese Ambassador to Fiji Masahiro Omura at the Tuvalu High Commission in Suva.  
 
Ambassador Masahiro Omura said last week Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced to Prime Minister Sopoaga the grant aid assistance.  
 
“This assistance formalises this commitment. It is called Economic Social Development Project for Tuvalu and aims to support procurement of diesel oil used at the power plant operated by TEC.
 
“Japan has been extended cooperation to the energy sector in Tuvalu for many years,” he said.
 
"We understand that Tuvalu is aiming at 100 percent utilisation of renewable energy in its national development plan. The Japanese government is supporting utilisation of renewable energy in Tuvalu through technical cooperation by JICA called “The Project for Introduction of Hybrid Power Generation System.
 
Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Spoaga acknowledged the assistance from the Japanese Government
 
“I am very grateful for the friendship that is being shared between the two countries,” he said.
 
Amabassador Omura also praised the excellent leadership of PM Sopoaga for making the bilateral relationship between Japan and Tuvalu strong as ever......PACNEWS

SOURCE: PACNEWS

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